But at this point, Luo Wei couldn't find a reason to refuse, so he could only show his surprise as much as possible. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
"I haven't finished speaking yet," Hela raised her hand. "If you accept my father's guarantee, you must join my hunting group during the hunting festival."
Luo Wei was startled. "You also want to participate in the hunting festival?"
Hela nodded. "It's not just me. The participants in this hunting festival also include Skadi… My father hopes that I can beat Skadi."
Jurisprudentially, Kuur is the undisputed King of Asgard, but in terms of public opinion, he is not. People prefer Odin, the All-Father of the Sky, to Kuur, the God of Fear.
Of course, Odin is not a man willing to live under anyone's shadow. Though he usurped his brother's position, it wasn't a path he tread lightly. Likewise, Kuur, though fully aware of the situation, couldn't act openly against his brother.
Thus, the relationship between the two brothers remained perpetually tense, often clashing in secret.
This year's hunting festival was particularly sensitive. With Kuur's daughter Skadi and Odin's daughter Hela participating simultaneously, it was bound to be a contest—an extension of the brothers' cold war, a showdown between two factions of Asgard.
Almost certainly, the competition would revolve around Skadi and Hela. The other participants would either play a secondary role or align themselves with one of the princesses. Winning the championship independently was virtually impossible.
Luo Wei realized this after pondering for a moment.
But he didn't particularly care about the hunting festival. He nodded and said, "I'm happy to serve you, Your Highness."
Shortly after Hela left, Luo Wei squatted down again, pouted his butt slightly, and resumed planting Thunderbolt fruit.
"Hey!" came a deep, familiar voice.
Luo Wei turned his head to see Skorch's massive frame approaching.
After many years, Skorch had grown into a veritable behemoth—at least two meters tall, muscle and fat rippling in equal measure.
He loomed like a mountain, casting a vast shadow over Luo Wei, who was crouched on the ground.
Luo Wei stood up, finding himself only chest-high to Skorch: "…"
Skorch's eyes lit up. "Was that Princess Hela just now? What's she doing here?"
Luo Wei answered calmly, "She came to see me. Why?"
Skorch blinked, stunned, then grinned in disbelief. "Seriously?"
Luo Wei changed the subject. "Did you just return from Jotunheim?"
After returning to Asgard ten years ago, Luo Wei had visited Skorch's home and learned that he had been sent to Jotunheim. He'd apparently stayed there for over a decade.
"That's right," Skorch nodded proudly. "I'm an official Asgardian warrior now, and also a vice-captain. Youngest vice-captain at our outpost!"
"Been selling diet pills lately?"
"You heard about that too?"
Skorch laughed heartily. "Kul Tiras Diet Pills—I heard about them at the outpost."
Luo Wei raised an eyebrow. "Outpost?"
"Yeah," Skorch said, "One of the guys came back from Asgard and had lost a ton of weight thanks to your pills. That's how I knew you were still around."
Luo Wei nodded thoughtfully, then patted Skorch's round stomach. "Looks like you should try my diet pills too."
"No way." Skorch declined instantly.
"Why not?"
Skorch chuckled. "You don't know how many times this fat's saved my life. Honestly, I think it's more useful than muscles or armor sometimes."
---
Palace of Asgard
The Odin family of three was dining in their golden hall.
"Rowe?" Odin asked casually.
Hela gave a small nod. "In Jotunheim, it was he who saved me."
Odin's current wife, Jord—the mother of Hela—tilted her head. "Didn't Uriel save you? I don't recall hearing about this Rowe."
Odin's expression soured slightly. He frowned, chewing more slowly, lost in thought.
Hela remained calm. "If not for him, I would have died at Laufey's hands long before Uriel found me."
Odin turned to her. "Is he strong?"
"Well… he's decent," Hela replied after a pause. "But his light magic is unique. I believe he'll be a great asset to my hunting team."
Odin smiled faintly. "I trust your judgment, daughter. What was his name again…?"
Hela looked mildly annoyed. "…Rowe."
"Yes, Rowe," Odin nodded. "I'll sponsor his entry into the hunting festival."
Jord changed the subject. "I heard Kuur has gathered a few hammer-wielders. Strange how some are so obsessed with hammers."
Odin didn't look at her. He focused on his meal. "The hammer is the weapon of kings—wielded by warriors and artisans alike. It can destroy, and it can create."
Jord eyed him skeptically. "You want Hela to use a hammer too?"
"That's actually a good idea," Odin suddenly brightened, still not looking at her. "Kuur's daughter can use a hammer. Why can't mine?"
He turned to Hela. "What do you think, daughter? I'll personally visit Nidavellir and have the Dwarven King forge the strongest warhammer for you."
Hela: "…"
---
Beneath the thick forest canopy, the fading twilight painted a vast, eerie glow.
Not far from Luo Wei stood a silver-furred giant wolf, injured but snarling, teeth bared. It let out a guttural growl: "Roar…"
Luo Wei, bruised and bloodied, breathed heavily as he eyed the beast with alert precision.
The silver beast was none other than the Level 4 rare monster—Wolf King Lubos, once the pet of a Hunter God in the World of Warcraft. A fearsome predator wielding shadow-based attacks.
Man and beast had clashed fiercely for a while, now locked in a tense stalemate.
"Roar!" Lubos snarled again and pounced.
Like in World of Warcraft, every one of Lubos's attacks carried a trace of shadow energy—potent and difficult to defend against.
Luo Wei, well aware of its lethality from previous encounters, didn't dare meet the attack head-on.
Holy Light Strike!
A golden beam of light blasted Lubos sideways, knocking the giant wolf off balance.
Yet Lubos, rugged and ferocious, flipped upright without even a yelp.
Luo Wei seized the moment, slamming his warhammer into the ground.
Sword of Justice!
The golden blade erupted from beneath the earth, catching Lubos in the forelimb. Blood spurted violently as the beast howled in agony.
With its leg wounded, Lubos's movements slowed. After a brief but intense exchange, it was pushed to the brink.
Luo Wei's attacks intensified, striking with relentless precision. Finally, he slammed his hammer down on the wolf's neck bone.
Boom!
Lubos's body burst apart in a flash of spectral light. As the energy dissipated, a page from the drop list fluttered gently to the ground.
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