Beginning Of Multiverse Saga

Chapter 285: Astrid Kidnapped, Skarn Merged With Aether

Frigga stepped forward, she pulled Jane behind her and declared firmly. Although Jane was a mortal, she was someone Thomas loved, and Frigga was determined not to give her up.

"You dare enter these halls? You will regret this insolence, Skarn."

"Brave words, but this is not bravery—it’s folly. You’re defending a mortal who doesn’t belong here. You should know by now, Frigga: nothing escapes my grasp when I desire it."

Skarn took a step closer.

"Then, you have made a big mistake," Frigga shouted, and using her magic she attacked them.

"Take care of Astrid," Sif handed Astrid to Jane and with her sword, she started fighting the soldiers of Skarn.

Skarn chuckled darkly, clearly amused by their defiance.

"You have courage, but courage without strength is meaningless. You cannot stop me. You’re fighting a god of conquest."

Frigga raised her staff, its golden light illuminating the room.

"You underestimate the strength of us, Skarn."

Suddenly, Skarn moved, faster than anyone expected. He swung his broken axe toward Sif, who narrowly blocked it with her blade. The force of the blow sent her skidding back, her feet digging into the ground to stop her momentum.

Maria grabbed Jane’s hand and pulled her behind Frigga, who created a glowing shield of energy to guard them. Jane clutched her chest as the Aether began to stir within her, sensing the danger.

Sif launched herself at Skarn, her blade flashing in a flurry of strikes. Skarn parried with his broken axe, each clash sending sparks flying. He laughed, clearly enjoying the fight.

As Sif battled Skarn, Frigga’s shield wavered under the strain of his aura.

Jane stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly red as the Aether reacted.

"You’re not taking anything from me, Skarn."

Skarn paused, his eyes narrowing at Jane. He raised his axe to strike, but Sif intercepted him, slamming her shield into his chest and driving him back.

But since Skarn was strong, he pushed back the Sif easily with her shield.

And using his shadow, he created a bomb, throwing it towards her to finish her off once and for all.

Just as the bomb was going to blow, Astrid’s eyes flew, and her Cryosapien powers activated, she froze the grenade, reducing its damage.

Everyone becomes shocked by the display of power from the baby Astrid, but none more so than Skarn, who sensed the danger.

Astrid didn’t stop there; she activated Pyro Phoenix powers, generating fire and attacking many of the Wraithborn.

The Wraithborn, who were nearly immortal, started dying by Astrid’s fire.

Just in a few seconds, except for Skarn, no one from his team was alive.

Seeing the situation, Skarn realized he was falling short in this attack. He couldn’t win against them at this moment. If he continued the battle, his army would slowly be destroyed by the Asgardian forces, and he’d eventually have to face Odin alone. That wasn’t part of his plan, so he ordered his army to retreat.

"Wife of Odin, I acknowledge your bravery and strength, but I believe we can strike a deal," Skarn said solemnly to Frigga.

"As the mother and Queen of Asgard, I will never make a deal with a terrorist! Skarn, I will personally tear your head off along with your soldiers for invading and attacking Asgard!" Frigga declared coldly.

"I sure hope that you can uphold that word of yours in the future, Queen of Asgard!" Skarn taunted as he quickly leaped towards Jane to protect him.

Maria pulled her back again, but Skarn was able to snatch Astrid before anyone could react.

Astrid, though strong, was still a child, and her powers were unleashed unconsciously. Everyone watched in anger and shock.

"Skarn! If you dare even touch a hair on her head, I swear I will chase you to the end of the universe!" Frigga declared coldly, her protective instincts for Astrid surpassing everything, even her feelings for Thomas and Jane.

Skarn laughed evilly as he made his demands, "I will spare Astrid, if you just send the mortal girl to me."

However, Thomas, Sharky, and Ethan had arrived on the scene. Sharky’s eyes turned red, seeing Astrid in Skarn’s arms, signaling his intense anger, the third time he had been pushed to this limit.

"You, Skarn, dare to threaten my daughter, whom I’ve not even had a chance to hold in my arms? You want to harm my child," Sharky shouted menacingly at Skarn.

Skarn’s laughter caught in his throat, and he felt an overwhelming sense of fear. Nevertheless, he was determined, "So what? If you want your child back, you must give me what I desire."

Odin also arrived there, after leaving the battle in the hands of Loki and his warriors.

He noticed the dilemma that Frigga is facing. If he were in her position, he might have made a different choice. Exchanging the mortal Jane for his granddaughter.

Loki, Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral also come and watch the situation with growing anxiety.

"If you want the power of the Aether, then you can have it," Sharky shouted in anger, and activated the Cosmic powers for the first time since he left his Ultimate Multiverse.

If Sharky wants, he could easily kill Skarn. But, now he wants to show him, even normal death is more peaceful than dying at the hands of Sharky.

As a result, he transformed into Cosmic Nexus.

Activating the power of Cosmic Nexus, he extracted the Aether from Jane, astonishing everyone. Even Odin was unfamiliar with the Aether and how it could separate from someone’s body without causing harm.

"Sharky, don’t give Skarn the power of the Aether. It could bring destruction to the universe," Thomas cautioned him trying to explain the situation.

"Shut up, you idiot! All you do is bring trouble to Asgard. You even wanted my granddaughter to be killed. Whatever the threat to the universe, it’s not more important than my granddaughter, Astrid Valor’s life," Odin was relieved that his granddaughter would be saved, but he grew angry after hearing Thomas’s remark.

Loki was, in many ways, better than Thomas. Despite his mischief, he was more capable. Once, he brought the Frost Giants to Asgard when Odin was in his Odinsleep.

But Loki single handedly defeated all the Frost Giants. As for the problems of Midgard, they were not his concern; he wasn’t Midgard’s babysitter.

He had imprisoned Loki previously, but now Loki’s sentence was over.

Frigga remained silent, filled with remorse for letting Skarn snatch Astrid. Thomas reflected on the mistakes he had made, thinking he was only trying to prevent the destruction of the universe.

Meanwhile, Sharky remained focused and pushed the Aether towards Skarn. When Skarn took control of the Aether, he threw Astrid, who was still crying.

Sharky, moving with impossible speed, caught his daughter gently, his anger momentarily giving way to relief as he cradled her close.

Astrid was just a child, but she also calmed down in Sharky’s embrace. It was the first time Astrid had been held by Sharky, and her body recognized the familiar embrace. The father and daughter bond.

"My dear Astrid, you no longer need to fear anyone. Your dad will teach the bad guy a lesson, and you can witness it yourself," Sharky whispered into Astrid’s ear.

Upon seeing Astrid in Sharky’s embrace, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Their attention then shifts to Skarn, his finger is going towards Aether. The crimson energy, alive and chaotic, writhed toward Skarn as if answering his will.

"You wanted me to take it, Sharky? Then so be it! The Aether is mine!"

Skarn said, as the Aether surged into his body, enveloping him in a blinding, red light. His armor cracked and glowed as Shard of Existence’s power fused with his very essence.

As the light subsided, Skarn’s new form emerged, his jagged black armor was now streaked with crimson veins. His once-damaged axe reformed, its edges glowing molten red. His eyes burned like twin suns. The air around him warped and twisted.

Skarn raised his axe, his voice booming with newfound power.

"The Nine Realms are mine to command! The Aether bends to my will, and with it, I shall reshape existence itself!"

The Asgardians, gathered in the chamber, were looking towards Skarn’s transformation.

Thomas’s grip on Mjölnir tightened.

"The Aether’s power cannot be controlled. Skarn will bring ruin to all if he’s not stopped."

Loki leaning against a pillar, muttered under his breath.

"Even I wouldn’t touch that power... we’re all doomed, aren’t we?"

Jane, looking at the scene, whispered to Sif, "This is my fault... I brought the Aether here."

But Sif denied her, "No, this is Skarn’s doing. But Sharky—he can stop him."

Odin’s eyes widened with shock. But hearing Sharky’s voice, he was a little bit calm.

"There is no need to be shocked, I can handle everything."

No one knows why, but they started calming down after hearing Sharky’s voice.

Meanwhile, Phobos from outside, smirked seeing Skarn was getting fused with Aether. He muttered to himself.

"So... the fool has taken it. He’s more arrogant than I thought. Let him play with the Aether—for now. He doesn’t realize he is doing work for me."

Phobos looked towards others while grinning, "Fear will grip them all soon enough. And when Skarn stumbles, as he inevitably will, I’ll be there to take what’s left."