Marvel: NIHILITY

The night was silent and still, save for the soft rustle of the wind through the trees and the faint crackle of the fire in the courtyard.

Wen Wu and David were fast asleep in their own rooms , their breathing steady in the darkened chambers of the stronghold. But in the shadowed recesses of the courtyard, a figure moved with stealth and purpose—Hela.

Her heart raced in anticipation as she approached the small chamber where the Ten Rings lay—Wen Wu's prized possession, a symbol of his immeasurable power.

Her plan was simple: take the rings, use their might to reclaim her helmet, and then find a way back to Asgard. She could not remain stranded on this planet forever, at the mercy of these mortals.

She crept through the compound, her footsteps muffled by the soft earth beneath her boots. The stronghold was eerily quiet, and for a brief moment, Hela allowed herself to believe she was alone, unnoticed.

The flickering torchlight in the hallway cast long shadows against the stone walls, hiding her movements as she made her way to Wen Wu's chambers.

The room was guarded by nothing but an old, worn door. She eased it open, careful not to make a sound, her eyes immediately fixing on the ornate box sitting atop a pedestal, where the Ten Rings lay in wait.

A smirk tugged at her lips as she reached for the box. But as she touched it, something seemed... off. A subtle vibration ran through the air, as if the rings themselves were aware of her presence.

She froze, her senses on high alert, but the room remained still. She quickly unlatched the box and began to lift it, only to be met with the sound of footsteps in the hallway.

"Dammit," Hela muttered under her breath.

With swift movements, she tucked the box under her arm, leaping toward the nearest window. Her fingers brushed the glass, and in an instant, she had opened it and was out into the night, her mind racing.

She leaped to the roof, landing silently atop the stone tiles, her thoughts already on her escape route. She had to move fast; she had to get away before Wen Wu or David found her.

The guards found her movements by then and raised an alarm, chasing after her. She darted across the rooftops, her footfalls light but hurried. The wind rushed through her hair, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel the rush of freedom. She was getting away—her mind filled with visions of reclaiming her power.

But fate had other plans.

As Hela dashed across the roof, a loose tile gave way beneath her feet. She barely had time to react as she slipped, crashing through the tiles and tumbling into a dark, empty room below.

The box containing the Ten Rings slipped from her arms, revealing that the rings inside were merely a fake copy. She angrily cursed and threw the box away.

She stood up, dusting herself off, her heart pounding. The room was empty, dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the broken ceiling. But she wasn't alone.

Out of the shadows came a small, curious creature, its large, round eyes gleaming in the darkness.

It was a Dijiang—a small, fluffy animal-like creature with delicate golden fur and soft, pointed ears. It blinked at her, and Hela felt a strange sensation ripple through her as it padded closer.

The creature opened its mouth, and a series of soft clicks and chirps filled the air, as if it were speaking to her in its own way.

"Are you... speaking to me?" Hela asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.

The Dijiang tilted its head in what seemed like a gesture of acknowledgment. Then, it made a sound that vaguely resembled words, though Hela couldn't understand them.

The creature's tiny paws gestured toward the cracked wall and then to the broken window she had fallen through. Its meaning was clear—it wanted her to follow.

Hela hesitated for only a moment, but the thought of being caught by David or Wen Wu gave her enough motivation to take a step forward. She followed the Dijiang, who led her through the maze of empty rooms and narrow hallways.

It was quick, its movements fluid as it scampered ahead of her, its small body darting between cracks and crevices she could never fit through.

The Dijiang led her to a hidden stable just outside the stronghold, where two horses stood, saddled and ready. It gestured to one of the animals, a sleek black stallion.

Hela raised an eyebrow. "I see. So you want us to escape together."

The creature nodded, its golden fur gleaming in the moonlight.

Without another word, Hela mounted the horse. The Dijiang hopped onto her back , guiding the horse with remarkable ease despite its small stature.

As they galloped through the night, the compound fading into the distance, Hela felt the wind in her hair and the promise of freedom at her back.

"Where are we headed, little one?" she asked, her voice barely audible above the sound of the hooves thundering against the earth.

The Dijiang chirped, and this time, Hela understood its meaning—there was a place not far off, a place where people might help her. A place where she could find a new purpose.

The creature's gaze was fixed on the path ahead, and though it couldn't speak in a language she knew, the sense of certainty in its actions was enough.

Hela's eyes narrowed, a fire igniting within her. "Very well ," she said, her voice low and determined. "I will get my helmet back, no matter what. I'll find a way back to Asgard."

But the Dijiang clicked its tongue again, pausing briefly before offering a gentle nudge. It seemed to convey that there were people not in a several-years-long journey away who might take up her cause instead. Hela, curious but not entirely convinced, slowed her pace slightly.

"Who are these people?" she asked.

The Dijiang chirped again, its tail flicking with excitement. The creature wasn't exactly clear, but its meaning was unmistakable. There were others—people who could help her find her way and perhaps even give her a new path to follow.

Hela felt a spark of interest. Perhaps the journey would not be as long as she had feared. But for now, she would ride through the night, trusting in the strange creature that had found her and led her away from the castle . The world ahead, she knew, was full of possibilities.

As she escaped, a hint of guilt flashed in her mind, remembering how her captors didn't treat her as a prisoner, and the conversations they had that night, specially that man. The face of a handsome man with an annoying grin crossed her mind, which she shook off with a sigh.

Meanwhile, David and Wen Wu watched her from a cliff. Wen Wu asked David, "You sure about letting her run off on her own? "

David just shrugged, " We are not babysitters, buddy. If she wants to find her own path, let her be.

Not like she will be in danger with her father and his voyeur subordinate watching over her."

Wen Wu coughed lightly, " I meant letting your potential wife run off on her own without any protection."

David laughed loudly, " I already have someone who will become my wife, and she's much prettier than an arrogant former goddess."

Wen Wu jokingly replied, " You can always marry both of them."

David retorted in a similar manner, " Say that after you get a wife yourself , virgin boy."