The Supreme Intelligence fell silent.
"I said, don't worry about Asgard," Ragna stepped forward, his presence overwhelming.
"The stakes are higher, and a full-scale war needs to be measured," the cold, calculated voice of the Supreme Intelligence finally responded.
"Hahaha, risk?" Ragna chuckled, his golden eyes gleaming. "To defeat the Skrull Empire, your losses were not insignificant. Your Accuser Corps and the majority of your main fleet are still occupied with hunting down Skrull remnants. The war may have left the Skrulls shattered, but it has left you weakened as well."
He gestured toward the galactic map behind him. "The fleet you have stationed in the Andromeda Galaxy is negligible. You rely on your intergalactic jump points for rapid mobilization, yet I will soon have control over every major one in Andromeda. If you attempt to mobilize forces from the Greater Magellanic Cloud, it will take half a standard Kree cycle at best. By then, I will have entrenched myself, and the Holy Heavenly Palace will hold the entire sector. Should you dare to deploy your primary forces, I will crush them the moment they breach the Andromeda system."
A sharp smirk crossed Ragna 's face. "And as for your vaunted Accuser Corps? My Angel warriors would take great pleasure in hunting them down one by one." His voice darkened. "So tell me, Supreme Intelligence, why have you truly come here to negotiate? Under the banner of a failing empire?"
The Kree envoy, his body still trembling from the immense psychic pressure, barely had time to react before Ragna 's gloved hands pressed against his temples. "I've always wanted to punch Odin in the face. Thanks for the opportunity."
With an explosion of divine energy, Ragna shattered the Supreme Intelligence's projected visage of Odin, launching a devastating soul impact that ejected the artificial consciousness from the Kree envoy's mind. The envoy convulsed as blue blood seeped from his orifices before collapsing onto the floor.
Minutes passed before the envoy, still shaken, struggled to his feet, wiping the residual blue from his face. He forced a respectful bow. "My lord, it seems negotiations have reached their conclusion." His voice was weak, but composed. "I will order the full retreat of all Kree fleets from the Andromeda Galaxy immediately."
Ragna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The Kree were notoriously arrogant, seldom conceding defeat. "Is this a direct order from the Supreme Intelligence? Are you truly willing to abandon your foothold in Andromeda?"
The envoy met his gaze steadily. "The warriors of the Kree Empire do not fear death, but meaningless sacrifices do not serve the Empire's interests." There was a rare sincerity in his expression—a stark contrast to the usual Kree militarism.
Ragna nodded indifferently, watching as the envoy departed. The vast fleets of the Kree Empire would soon be nothing more than fading remnants.
Returning to his throne, he mused aloud, "How will the Kree Empire respond next?"
Magellanic Cloud, Hala—The Kree Empire's Throneworld
Deep within the heart of Hala, the Supreme Intelligence convened the Supreme Council. The floating, disembodied green head of the Supreme Intelligence flickered in the dim chamber, surrounded by holographic projections of Kree generals, philosophers, and scientists.
The Supreme Intelligence—an amalgamation of the most brilliant minds in Kree history—analyzed infinite data streams, continuously evolving in intellect and power. This intelligence, created through the absorption of Kree leaders' consciousnesses, had guided the Empire through countless wars, including its ancient struggle against the Skrulls.
A Kree general, clad in traditional Accuser armor, stood rigidly before the council, his voice filled with righteous fury. "The reputation of the Kree Empire must not be tarnished! We have vanquished the Skrulls—our rightful place as the dominant force in the universe cannot be questioned. If we retreat before this so-called Holy Heavenly Palace, the remnants of the Skrull Empire and their vassals will resist our rule!"
Many among the council murmured in agreement. Lesser civilizations, once under Skrull dominion, had already begun to test the Kree's weakened grasp. The loss of Andromeda could embolden rebellions across multiple systems.
A philosopher, garbed in ceremonial robes, calmly countered, "Reputation is dictated by strength. Strength is not measured by a single battle, nor by reckless pride. If we exhaust ourselves against this new power, we may face greater threats elsewhere."
Another voice chimed in, "Seconded. Engaging in war without calculated advantage is folly. He is an Aesir, and if Asgard intervenes, our losses will be far greater than we can afford."
"Ragna seeks faith, not territory," another strategist proposed. "We relinquish Andromeda, but we curb his expansion elsewhere. Simultaneously, we initiate trade with his empire, exchanging surplus military resources for vital raw materials. His so-called raider armies are ill-equipped—he will need starships, armaments. We sell him outdated Kree technology, ensuring our dominance remains unchallenged while subtly influencing his military structure."
A murmur of approval swept through the council chamber.
"Seconded," multiple voices echoed.
The Kree were warriors, but the Supreme Intelligence was not bound by their zealotry. It had survived millennia through calculated pragmatism, not reckless wars.
Was this the beginning of an uneasy truce between the Kree Empire and Ragna ?
The Supreme Council deliberated further. The future of the Kree was at stake.
And the war, whether fought with fleets or diplomacy, was far from over.
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