Princes of the Pantheons

  Worlds at War

  (1) The Night the Realms Collided

  “Thrae”

  December 31, 2019

  11:15 PM

  Eleven days and eleven nights. That’s how long this battle went on for. No one had slept or eaten in days. The exhaustion was finally starting to set in. Both “sides” had been fighting to the death. The truth: no one knew what they were even fighting for, exactly. The planet that they were on lie on the edges of the universe. Completely isolated. It had long since been desolate. No fauna or flora. No water. The only structure was a large pyramid with runes all over it. It had no doors or openings. The energy emanating from could be felt by every being within lightyears.

  “This prophecy must come to pass!” the leader of the warrior Vikings yelled.

  Standing at six feet, four inches; he was a large and muscular man. He also sported a short golden blonde beard that matched long hair of the same color. The armor that he wore was silver and black and despite the arduous battle, still shone brightly as if he’d just put it on. His voice boomed across the battlefield, heard by his comrades as well as his enemies. His men rallied as they brim with confidence and continue their fight. The hoard of enemies charging at them from every direction seemed infinite. It didn’t matter. The leader’s intended goal had been met... for now. He exuded leadership. Strength.

  The prophecy that the Viking leader mentioned was still a mystery to him. Visions he saw were fractured. All the same, he knew that he had to be here. Especially considering who was trying to get to whatever lie inside the pyramid. He’d do whatever was necessary.

  “We make our last stand here!” the man shouted again.

  He could see that this battle was starting to take its toll on his men.

  “No shit, Aesir.” a slender, but muscular man replied as he took his place beside the man.

  He looked around late twenties and had no facial hair. Short, black hair donned his head. The garb that he wore looked to be made of the most elegant linen. It shined a bright gold and was a bit dirtied at the bottom. He also wore sandals. He didn’t seem fit for war.

  “And how can I even hear you over all this?” the beautiful man added.

  “It’s Bragi. And all that matters is that you heard me.” retorted the Viking leader.

  “WHOA! You lead THEM, not me.” exclaimed the pretty stranger as he pointed at some of Bragi’s men on the battlefield.

  Storm clouds started to form in the sky as lightning crackled loudly. The man’s eyes begin to glow white as he clenched his fists. Lightning could be seen running through and over his body. The battlefield lit up from the overhead storm. Thousands of bodies already littered the ground around them. Casualties from both sides. There were harpies, demons, Aesir, giants, hell dogs, cyclops and more. All of them sported a single rune on their foreheads.

  “Let’s get back to it. Shall we?” he says to Bragi.

  “We shall, indeed!” replied Bragi.

  Bragi conjured two beautifully crafted axes. They looked as if they had never been used—silver and polished. They each had a single rune etched onto the bottoms of the hilts. He tossed one of them to the young man as he readied to fight once more. The young man caught the axe and immediately flew up into the storm clouds. Grabbing a lightning bolt, the man came shooting down towards the enemies. As he landed, a loud rumble could be heard as he met with the enemies' forces. The ground broke up as the monsters in the immediate vicinity were completely disintegrated by the lightning that followed the man. Lightning continued to strike in different places around the man as he mowed more of the hellish horde making their way to him. Axe in one hand, lightning bolt in the other- killed dozens of monsters with each swing.

  “Hahahahaha! I like this kid!” Bragi shouted as he joined the fight.

  The Aesir leader grew sixty feet tall in an instant. The axe that he held was now shooting around the battlefield as Bragi held his hand out to control it. It chopped down an insane number of enemies as Bragi stomped and the ground shattered, sending a gargantuan shockwave outward. Vines sprouted from the underneath his feet as they shoot out towards enemies in every direction. These were his doing. As they immobilized his enemies, the vines started to siphon the life force from them. This magic was one of his proudest accomplishments. The energy that was stolen from Bragi’s foes was being shared with all his warriors. This buff made his men fight harder and faster. Their exhaustion seemed to no longer exist.

  As the two men continued to kill the many monsters before them; a tall, darkskin woman with short, platinum blonde locs appeared before Bragi. She stood at six feet even. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, except for a single loc in the front. She joined in and helped him fight. She was Bragi’s oldest and dearest friend. They’d fought many a battle together. The armor she donned was even more glorious than Bragi’s. It was gold and black. The spear that she carried was the same hue of gold. Bragi noticed his comrade as he shrinks to normal size and makes his way towards her. They both continue to mow down enemies as they close the distance between them.

  “Brynnhildr.” starts Bragi. “How goes it?”

  They way they fought in sync was a sight to behold. They killed enemies with Bragi’s axe and her Brynnhildr’s spear with such grace and ferocity. She could make her spear extend several meters and retract in the blink of an eye.

  “I couldn't find a way into the pyramid. But neither could THEY. It remains secure.” Brynnhildr replied.

  They both decided to kick it up a notch. Bragi called his axe back and used it to cut a group of hell dogs into pieces. Brynnhildr started to move faster and hit harder than she already was. She started to expand her spear as she jumped into the air and used it incapacitate several giants that were making their way to the pair. This was a life and death battle, but the woman moved with a swiftness and calm that no one else on the planet could mimic. Battle was her happy place. Even when the odds seemed to be against them, she’d fight. And that was one of the reasons that Bragi loved her so much.

  A cyclops and several other monsters were running at Bragi and Brynnhildr when the former threw his axe at the cyclops. The elephantine man picked up one of the monsters and used it to shield itself. The cyclops then threw the monster, axe still in its chest, away from Bragi as it continued to make its way toward the man. Brynnhildr dispatched the surrounding monsters as Bragi chuckled. As the cyclops raise both hands, Bragi held his right hand out. His axe left the dead monster’s body and flew back to him. The cyclops almost completely exploded from the impact of the weapon ripping through its body in the process.

  The young, handsome man from earlier returned to Bragi and Brynnhildr. Lightning struck as he landed. Suddenly, the winds picked up and grew violent. Holding up his hands, the pretty man called lightning down as the wind mixed with it and blew away hundreds of enemies. The lightning fried them as well.

  “Pretty good fighter. For an Olympian.” Bragi stated.

  “The name’s Jupiter.” replied the young man.

  The trio kept up their assault on the monsters. Thet were all each a force to be reckoned with. Together, their power kept the monsters back. Bragi, being a lover of battle, couldn’t help, but to revel in the group's feats.

  “This is not the time to get lost in the beauty of battle, Bragi!” Brynnhildr scolded him as she pulled her spear from the eye of a falling giant.

  “I have to agree.” added Jupiter.

  There were dozens of harpies flying about them. Jupiter pointed his finger at one. Lightning shot from it and electrocuted the monster. It fell to the ground with a thud. Again. And again. Until there were no more directly above them.

  Snapping out of his trance, the Aesir leader summoned several dozens of weapons before him. There were spears, swords, maces, axes, and more. They were also all silver and had the single rune on their hilts as the two axes that Bragi materialized earlier. The weapons started to fly around the trio at crazy speeds. As the monsters kept trying to get through, they were sliced or maimed completely.

  “What should w—what CAN we do?” Bragi asks.

  His serious demeanor had returned.

  “We know that they’re trying to STOP a prophecy that’s even older than your father is.” stated Brynnhildr.

  “I hate prophecies.” Jupiter chimed in.

  Sucking his teeth, lightning struck again, killing four approaching giants. He was visibly annoyed.

  “This is true. As well as him conspiring with some unknown entity, thanks to my Sight.” adds Bragi.

  “How’d they even find this place? I don’t know what’s in there, but I think that they’re trying to siphon power from it.” Jupiter states.

  “I have no idea. We barely found it ourselves. Heimdall made this possible.” Brynnhildr told him.

  “Let’s just run in there and tear everything apart!” exclaims Jupiter.

  “You are powerful, friend. But I don’t think that you can take my father. Most of these creatures are under his control. He’s conquered realms for several millennia. He’s a few million years old.” Bragi warns.

  “I’ve heard stories.” says Jupiter.

  He needed to gain a level head. Bragi’s words helped. Bragi chuckles as the trio continues to brainstorm.

  Suddenly, a bright red light appeared. Next came what looked like a rift in space. Out stepped a young, Black man with hair as white as snow braided back and tied into a bun. The suit that he wore was the cleanest white with gold stripes on the biceps, hips, and thighs. He sported a cape that was short and colored solid gold. With a few waves of his hands and some inaudible words, every enemy on the battlefield froze in their place.

  “I kind of borrowed that time spell and haven’t quite perfected it. So, it won’t last long.” the young man stated to Bragi, Brynnhildr, and Jupiter.

  “And you are?” Jupiter asks the stranger.

  “My apologies. My name is Guardian.” he replies.

  “Self-appointed? Sounds pretentious.” says Jupiter.

  “My galaxy was destroyed. I monitor threats around the universe in hopes of finding out why. As well as stopping anything like that from happening again.” Guardian shares.

  “I see. And it brought you here?” asks Brynnhildr.

  “Correct. What your father and the forces that he conspires with are planning to do is unthinkable. The balance of magic as well as chaos and order are at risk.” Guardian says as he faces Bragi.

  “Okay, Guardian. If that’s your real name.” starts Jupiter. “What do you get out of helping us? And where can I get one of these capes?”

  “Well, actually. My real name is Ezra. And answers, hopefully.” replies Guardian.

  Completely ignoring the question about the cape, Guardian then waves his hands as he creates hand signs. Almost immediately after, another rift opens beside them.

  “I know that you have no reason to trust me. If we succeed in stopping them from whatever it is that they’re planning, I’ll answer any questions.” says Guardian.

  “Deal.” says Bragi.

  Bragi is the first to enter the rift. He’s followed by Guardian, Brynnhildr, and lastly, Jupiter.

  “He didn’t mention anything about the cape.” Jupiter whispers to Brynnhildr.

  She just rolls her eyes as they step out from the other side of the rift. There is nothing but darkness. Guardian waved his hand again and five large balls of light shot from it. They then spread out and lit up the area.

  “We’re inside the pyramid.” states Brynnhildr.

  “You couldn’t come and do this... ten days ago?” Jupiter asks.

  “I needed to be sure that I could trust you.” replies Guardian, plainly.

  There was nothing but two large boxes in the middle of the structure, floating ten feet above the floor. They shine a bright gold as purple tinges of magic ran around their surfaces. They looked like caskets. Was this a tomb? The power that the group sensed since arriving could be felt a hundred times over. Whatever was inside was still exuding heavy amounts of magic.

  “What exactly is in there?” Brynnhildr asks. “And what are you planning on doing?”

  “It looks like a... tomb.” Bragi says.

  “I don’t know... for sure. But they were calling to me.” Guardian says as he also examines the objects.

  “For help? Or a fool?” Jupiter asks.

  “For... freedom.” Guardian adds.

  Just as he spoke these words, a large hole was blasted into the side of the wall. A huge man was the first to step through. He stood at seven feet and had the most defined and large muscles. His beard was the same color as Bragi’s, but longer. He had runes carved onto each finger and wore gold rings. He looked to be in his late forties but was much older. Following him was a slender woman, dressed in a black bodysuit and unkempt wig in the style of a bob. She stood at five feet, ten inches. Her nails were long and sharp—almost like claws. Lastly, a regular looking man dressed in a red robe. He stood around six feet. His fabrics were red and had Egyptian glyphs on them. He carried a golden scepter with him. Their power could be felt by the group. As could their bloodlust.

  “We can’t let them get to... whatever these are!” yelled Jupiter.

  “I need some time.” Guardian says.

  He then starts to float as he folds his legs and begins chanting. Jupiter materialized bolts of lightning that he began to hurl at the menacing trio. He was closing the distance with each bolt thrown. He approached the shorter man in the red robe, and they began their fight.

  “Keep her away from Guardian, Brynn!” Bragi says as he walks towards the large man.

  “Got it!” she replies as she makes her way to the woman.

  “My faith in foreigners may yet prove beneficial, aye father?” Bragi says to the man.

  “My unruly son.” replies the man, glaring at Bragi.

  The two begin fighting. The man’s strength is on another level. But Bragi already knew that. Bragi summoned a sword and sliced at his father. The man took the impact of the blow as he tried to grab his son. Bragi immediately ducked and slid back, away from the man’s reach. He then ran back towards him and continued to slice away at the man with his sword. Not even a scratch.

  Jupiter and the man from earlier could be seen hurling lightning and magic at each other. The man formed a red force field that blocked Jupiter’s lightning. Brynnhildr and the woman started to exchange blows. The woman’s nails formed claws as she tried slashing at the Valkyrie warrior. Brynn blocked every single attack with her spear, before swinging at the woman. As her hits connected, Brynn swung the other end of the spear to slice at the woman.

  Annoyed with Jupiter, the man held up his staff and sent him flying back and into the far wall. He then formed a red sphere over him and fire started to shoot at the Olympian. Jupiter’s eyes crackle with lightning as he stood. He held out both hands and formed a steady stream of lightning that shot at the man. He held up his hand as the lightning deflect and shoot upwards.

  “You are powerful, child. But surely you do not think that you are a match for me.” says the man.

  The fire that was shooting at Jupiter stopped. The man waved his staff again and sent Jupiter flying once more. This time, he landed near Guardian—who was still working on the floating objects.

  “Any day now!” Jupiter says to Guardian.

  Bragi then comes flying near the two. Jupiter stands and calls lightning from the sky and through the hole in the wall. It forms a lightning wall between them.

  “Switch.” says Jupiter.

  Bragi stands and materializes a silver spear. He channels his power through it and sends bursts of magic at the man. The older god balls his fist as the sand from the floor turns red and forms a small wall. He shot tendrils from it and at Bragi as they fight each other. Jupiter charges himself with lightning as he jets forth and crashes into Bragi’s father. This disorients the man for a literal second. The young god continues this, seeing as it’s the only thing he can do to keep the man back. Brynn was doing a stellar job of keeping the woman occupied. In all honesty, she was no match for the Valkyrie. And they both knew it.

  “The spell is almost complete.” says Guardian.

  Right after, he returns to standing and takes a place beside Bragi. He and the man are still shooting magic at each other. Guardian holds out his hands and the sands that the man was using as a shield fell. The alien stranger started to shoot fireballs and violent bursts of air at the man. The man held his own against the two. As everyone fought, the floating casket-like objects started pulsing. The man muttered some words and red smoke formed and then shot through Jupiter’s shield. It then enveloped the objects as the magic clashed with each other.

  “He must not succeed!” shouted Guardian.

  Bragi’s father tried to lunge at Guardian but was tackled by his son and Brynn. The woman that she was fighting could be seen in the background struggling to stand. The same for Jupiter. The man and Guardian faced off with their respective magics. As the woman that Brynn fought stood, she extracted her claws and lunged at Guardian. Jupiter struck her with lightning as she flew in the opposite direction. They were both tired and had taken a beating. But they fought. He shot more lightning at the woman. She dodged with cat-like reflexes.

  “Try all you’d like, boy. But you fight a futile battle. Now, run along and play on your little throne.” she says to Jupiter.

  He covered his body in lightning as they exchanged blows. Her claws and agility of a cat versus his lightning.

  “I’ve always known that you were a vile and disgusting man. When is enough, enough?” Brynn says to Bragi’s father.

  She swung her spear at him as it met. Still, not a scratch. Her and Bragi tried to rush and, but he stomped. This sent a small shockwave, and they flew back a dozen feet.

  “Knowing, proving, and being able to make an actual difference all differ, dear girl.” the man arrogantly replied.

  He then lunged and closed the distance between them. As they stand, Brynn notices that Guardian is losing to the man with the scepter. She hurries to his side and starts swinging away at his force field. They both attack the man as he tried his best to maintain his shield and deflect some of Guardian’s spells. His shield had finally crumbled, and Brynn took the chance to start slashing and stabbing the old god. Blood could be seen. He started to get slower as their onslaught continued. Proving too much for him, Brynn knocked away his scepter as Guardian sent an immobilizing spell at the man. It connected and Guardian wasted no time.

  “Sands of Horus.” Guardian stated.

  The sand on the floor turned gold and shot up as it formed a circle around the man. He was no longer immobilized, but he couldn’t escape.

  “How do YOU know this spell?” spat the man.

  “Because you do. Seht.” Guardian stated.

  The man looked shocked before his eyes glow red and shoot a steady stream of magic from them and at the sand wall. It did nothing.

  “He’ll need help escaping them.” Guardian says to Brynn. “They need help.”

  Guardian waves his hands and a small black vortex formed. It then sucked in all Seht’s red smoke before disappearing. The caskets were also gone. Instead, two young men were seen floating in their places. With a swift leap into the air, Brynn extends her spear as she flipped upside down and it hits the woman that she fought from earlier. The weapon tears into the woman’s torso as she is sent flying into the wall. The other end of the staff shot at Bragi and his father. Bragi grabbed it and used it to swing into the air. As he stays flies into the air, his silver sword disappeared. Less than a second after, a golden spear materialized in his hands. He shot a large and steady stream of golden magic at his father. The man braced as it connected, and he was sent through the floor and deep underground.

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  “Gungnir never misses.” states Bragi as he kisses the spear before making it disappear as well.

  Bragi lands as he looks at the floating twins. Everyone is in shock. This wasn’t what they were expecting.

  “Time to retreat!” declares the Aesir.

  “YES.” Brynn, Guardian, and Jupiter reply in unison.

  “I can help with that.” states Guardian as he opens another rift.

  “What of your men?” Jupiter asks.

  Bragi stops and whispers “Heimdall, retreat” as the group then enters Guardian’s portal.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  ???

  January 1, 2020

  12:06 AM

  The group of ragtag heroes all exit the portal as it snapped shut. They were now standing in a large room with two couches. There’s a large television on the wall. There was another room a few feet away which held a large, rectangular table and some chairs. They were elegant, but everything was a construct. There were books on the table, as well as a few bags of chips and bottled waters. The ceiling had to be around twenty feet high. There were floating symbols decorating it. There was a door on the ceiling, oddly enough. One was also a door on the floor, almost hidden by one of the couches. Lastly, there was a door on the far wall—opposite a large hallway.

  “Where the hell are we?” Jupiter asked.

  “This is a small pocket dimension that I created. I spend most of my time here.” replied Guardian.

  “Soooo your home?” Jupiter asked again. This time, with a hint of sarcasm.

  Brynn was standing five feet away and was holding one of the young men. Bragi stood beside her with the other slung over his shoulder.

  “But is it s-” Bragi started.

  “Safe? Indeed. I assure you.” Guardian tells him.

  He then motions for the two to follow him down the hallway as Jupiter plops down on one of the sofas. The hallway has nine doors. Four on each side and one at the end of the hallway. The go into the furthest room on the left and lay them onto two beds that float an inch above the floor. There is a small stand between them both with a lamp sitting on the top. More constructs. Another ability of Guardian’s, clearly.

  As they return to the room they arrived in, Bragi teases Jupiter- who looks like he’s asleep.

  “Are you dead, Olympian?!” the Aesir bolsters.

  “I told you; my name is Jupiter. Barbarian.” Jupiter replies, opening one of his eyes.

  Brynn giggles.

  “We have matters to discuss.” states Bragi.

  Guardian walks into the next room and sits at the table. The others follow him. He then waves his hand, and a door opens on the other side of the room. Out floats several plates with different kinds of food and land on the table before the group. Roasted chicken, duck, and some salads were on the menu.

  “I started to prepare this when we arrived.” Ezra says.

  The group starts to devour the food in front of them. It had been almost two weeks since they’d had a meal. Guardian starts.

  “First, please call me Ezra. I’m an Ishcarlian. My galaxy was destroyed in some kind of cataclysm. I don’t even know how or why. Or even how long ago.” Guardian shares.

  “A whole galaxy?” asks Brynn.

  “Yes. My planet was one of many that have been completely wiped from existence.” says Guardian.

  “What made you come to that planet?” asks Bragi. “And how did you survive?”

  “Thrae.” says Ezra.

  “Is that where we were?” Jupe asks as he continues swallowing down the meal.

  “While scanning the cosmos for a remnant or essence of my galaxy, I was led there. I’m an empath. I feel, sense, and experience the emotions of others.” replies Ezra.

  “So, you FELT these young men?” Brynn inquires.

  “In a way, yes. I didn’t know what they even were. Or why they reached out to me specifically. But the magic emanating from them is strong. And... foreign.” explains Ezra.

  The group processes what he has told them.

  “And... I don’t know how I survived. My planet was performing a protection ritual in tandem. It was a tradition. That’s the last that I remember. Before waking up here.” Ezra tells the group.

  “You think those boys are somehow connected or of your galaxy?” asks Bragi.

  “Yes. And no.” Ezra says.

  “Oh?” says Jupiter.

  The food is almost gone by now. The group is full.

  “They aren’t Ishcarlian. But they may have been from my galaxy.” replies Ezra.

  Just as he is finished explaining, the television flashes on. The group follow Ezra into the other room to see what’s going on.

  “You have cable?” Jupiter sarcastically asks.

  Bragi and Brynn immediately look at him in shock and disbelief.

  “This is a monitoring system that I created. It scans the universe for threats to younger or more docile planets. This one is called... Ee-arth.” says Ezra.

  “He’s clearly never been to Midgard.” Bragi says as he laughs.

  “None of us have. It was banned in the pact.” Jupiter replies.

  “Sure, Mr. Cable.” replies Brynn, also laughing.

  Ezra forms a portal as the group readies to investigate the threat on Earth.

  “Will they be safe here, alone?” asks Brynn, grabbing her spear.

  “Let us hope so.” replies Jupiter.

  Guardian, Bragi, Brynnhildr, and lastly Jupiter enter the portal as it snaps closed.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Trenton, NJ

  January 1, 2020

  1:04 AM

  Crashing and screaming could be heard throughout the city as the group exited the portal. Buildings had been destroyed. Dead and injured bodies littered the streets. The police that had shown up were either dead or being held back by the monsters running around town.

  “Borr’s ass. What is this madness?” says Bragi.

  The Aesir man noticed draugr running around and attacking people. His father cared for no one’s lives. He already knew that he played a part in the scene before them. Draugr were foul smelling, corpse-like beings from his realm. Them being here made no sense.

  “What the hell are these funky things?” yells a young Black man in a hoodie.

  He’s seen flying past the group and into a bus. He looks to be in his late twenties, but the group can’t be sure because of his hood. He stands and then bends down as he grips the bottom of the bus. The young man stands and the bus rises. He was lifting it. The group was so amazed, they didn’t see a wolf running towards them from the same direction. It was almost the same size as the vehicle that the young man had in his hands.

  “Hmmph!” the young man grunts as he hurls it at the group.

  They duck as the large bus collides with the wolf and sends it flying back.

  “Fenrir’s child?! The Aesir oppressor knows no bounds!” Brynn shouts.

  “An Earthling with such strength.” notes Jupiter.

  A large canine is now running towards the group. It’s an almond brown and has three heads.

  “It’s MINE!” says Jupiter.

  He then flies into the air and punches the gargantuan dog. It whimpers as it falls back into a building before jumping up and lunging at the Olympian. The middle head snaps first, then the right. Lastly, the left. Jupiter dodges each attack and then slaps the dogs. First the right, then middle, and lastly the left. Lightning struck and met his hand with each smack. The dog was stunned for a few seconds.

  The young human from earlier was now seen lunging at the draugrs. His punches sent them flying or exploding on impact. Such strength. As Brynn walks towards the now standing wolf, she retracts her spear and holsters it on her back. Cracking her knuckles, she speaks to the animal.

  “Out of respect for your mother, I shall not kill you. I know that you are being controlled in some way.” says the Valkyrie woman.

  The wolf hesitates before lunging. Brynn jumps into the air and two-pieces it, sending it flying back once more. She then lands and races off after it. The large beast tries to snap at her, which she dodges before meeting it with another punch. Contrary to what was being witnessed, she was holding back.

  Bragi decides to join Jupiter as he fights the triple headed dog.

  “What an ugly beast.” states Bragi.

  The Aesir then grabbed the dog by its tail and lifted it, before slamming it on the street. The ground breaks up as the dog tries frantically to break free.

  “And it’s obviously no match for you.” Jupiter says to Bragi as he flies away.

  “Huh?” replies Bragi as the monstrous dog stood and prepared to attack.

  “Now... where are you?” says Jupiter, barely above a whisper.

  The Olympian continues to fly around the area as he scanned. He sensed a familiar power and flew towards it. As he approached, he could see a parking garage with a large, black cloud inside.

  “Found you.” says Jupiter.

  A loud crackle of lightning is heard as he charges up an attack. Lightning takes over his body as storm clouds form. Throwing out his hands, several streams of lightning come down and meet them, before shooting into the parking structure. As it meets with the dark cloud, a loud “BANG” is heard and the whole building collapses.

  Guardian appears and holds out his hands. The falling debris immediately stopped.

  “Sorry, bud. You got this?” asks Jupiter.

  “Yes. Go.” Guardian replies as he starts to wave his hands, and the damage begins to reverse.

  Jupiter flies into the air to scan for the entity again. Just as he closes his eyes, dozens of tendrils of black mist shot at him. A few of them hit him before he could charge himself again and deflect the rest. He fell to the ground, catching himself. Now kneeling, with one fist on the ground, he looks up at the man levitating before him.

  “Dis Pater.” the Olympian stated.

  “Jupiter. It seems that you’ve finally stopped hiding.” replies the man.

  He is as tall as Jupiter. He had familiar features. He wore the same sandals as him, but had a dark black suit with a short, black cape. It was tattered. He wore a hood. Black tinges of smoke swirl around the man violently.

  “Yes, too bad for you.” Jupiter replies, standing.

  Holding up his hands, Jupiter calls down a few lightning bolts and hurl them at the man. The hooded figure blocked some of his attacks as he sent more tendrils toward Jupiter. Whenever their attacks met each other, small shockwaves formed.

  By now, Brynn had knocked the wolf out as she moved onto fighting the draugrs. The young man with super strength was doing the same. He’d hop into the air and come down with a shockwave. A few draugrs got close and the young man met them with kicks that sent them into the stratosphere. Guardian appeared before the two and started to sling spells at the monsters. Fireballs and lightning, then slicing winds and shards of ice.

  By now, news helicopters had arrived and were recording the scene as they group fought to protect the city from these otherworldly forces. There were only a few citizens still in the area. The remaining police force tried their hardest to fight the draugrs, but proved no match. Some of them had even fled upon finding out how futile their fight was.

  Bragi could be seen jumping from on top of the large dog’s headless body. He had a silver axe in one hand and a silver spear in the other. Covered in blood, he looked around before noticing Jupiter and the mysterious man fighting. He immediately started running towards the two.

  “Now, brother. Father misses you and wishes for you to assume the throne.” the hooded figure spoke to Jupiter between attacking.

  Jupiter couldn’t help but to hesitate and the man took advantage of that moment. He held his hands out and his cape shot out and started to wrap itself around Jupiter. It was nullifying his lightning as he struggled to break free.

  “Not today, friend!” shouted Bragi from behind.

  As the man turned around, he was met with the hand of a sixty-foot Aesir. Bragi slapped the man so hard, he shot towards the river and his clutches on Jupiter released. Jupiter fell to his knees for a few seconds, before standing and readying himself to fight.

  “Family troubles?” asked Bragi.

  “Something like that.” replied Jupiter.

  “We need to regroup. My father’s work was sloppy. He clearly no longer cares to abide by The Pact.” says Bragi.

  “Indeed. Working with my brother can’t possibly end well for anyone.” says Jupiter a as they make their way back toward Brynn and Guardian.

  Guardian is now levitating thirty feet in the air as Brynn and the super strong young man are still fighting the monsters. The young man jumps toward Brynn and punches a few draugr that tried hitting her from behind. This surprises her. Although she knew they were there (and planned to dispatch them before they’d realize), she was shocked at his battle prowess. For a human, and one so young, he was extremely well versed in the art of battle.

  “Are you human?” asks Brynn.

  “What else would I be, Amazon lady.” the young man replies.

  “Do I look Russian to you?” Brynn asks snidely.

  Guardian holds out his hands and forms fists. Several portals open around the city. The draugrs, headless dog, and wolf start to hover before floating into the rifts that are closest to them. They run and struggle, to no avail. Just as Guardian finishes, he holds his hands above his hands. The portals snap closed and the damage that is done to the buildings start to reverse.

  “I cannot bring back the dead.” says Guardian.

  He’s referring to all the citizens that had lost their lives due to this merciless attack.

  “Aye. None of us can. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. God or not.” says Bragi.

  “Why did your father do this?” Jupiter asks.

  “No idea. But these might tell us something.” Bragi says as he materializes a few stones with runes on them. “Death magic. My father’s.”

  “We’ll analyze them once we get back.” says Brynn.

  Guardian goes to open his portal as one appears on the ground below Bragi. Brynn immediately pushes him to the side as she’s swallowed up by it, and it closes.

  “Brynnhildr!!” shouts Bragi.

  “I’m sorry. I assumed that it was safe.” says Guardian.

  “You are not alone, alien. We all let down our guards. And I should’ve sensed it.” Jupiter says, seriously.

  “Yeah, this is all too crazy.” says the young man from behind the group.

  “Wait, human. We have questions.” Jupiter says.

  “And?” says the young man.

  “And we’d like some answers.” replies Jupiter.

  “Join the club.” the human spits back.

  He then leaps off and lands on the top of a far building. He leaps again and is gone from sight.

  “We must find a way to save Brynnhildr. She is strong, but my father is the Aesir Conqueror. He’ll torture her.” says Bragi, worried.

  Guardian opens a portal, and the group walk into it.

  “Absolutely. And our new ‘friend’ just may prove helpful.” says Guardian.

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Meanwhile

  “We didn’t want prisoners. Much less Aesir filth.” spits the feline-looking woman that Brynn fought earlier.

  “Aesir isn’t filth, Bastet. And she isn’t Aesir, not that I’d expect a fallen goddess to know much." Borr replies.

  Brynn’s neck, hands, and feet were shackled. The chains glow red from the enchantment put upon them by Seht. Bastet jumps as she is caught off guard. She didn’t hear Borr approach her and Seht from behind. She’d have to make a note of that. If there was a god that she didn’t want to come up against, he was it.

  “We’ll make good use of her.” Seht said, eyes glowing red.

  “Indeed. My son and his playthings are proving to be a pain.” stated Borr.

  The hooded figure that Jupiter fought earlier appear before the group.

  “Pluto. Nice of you to join us.” Bastet says.

  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  January 3, 2020

  4:32 PM

  HQ

  “It’s been two and a half days since they’ve taken Brynnhildr!” shouts Bragi.

  The Aesir has been in a testy mood since. Scrying for her essence nor locator spells proved useful. Sitting in the living room with Jupiter, he had run out of ideas.

  “Are you afraid that she may be...” starts Ezra, softly.

  “Tuh!” scoffs Jupiter. “Her people have been dealt worse blows than a few bored gods.”

  “And what would you know of Brynnhildr and her people?” inquires Bragi.

  “Relax, Asgardian. I only mean that I know of her and how strong she is.” Jupiter replied.

  He seemed serious. Rare.

  “I had heard stories of her people before I knew that yours even existed. Fighting her head-on is in no one’s best interest.” Jupiter adds.

  “Hmm. You speak the truth.” Bragi says.

  Ezra stands and motions for them to follow him into the dining room. Jupiter stands first, then Bragi. As they enter, he waves his hands and food floats on plates from the kitchen. The three sit and indulge.

  “So, what stories have you heard of my people?” Bragi asks Jupiter.

  “That your magic is strong. Although, not as strong as the Vanir. Most are rumors. You guys being primitive, being an example.” Jupiter replies.

  “Prim-- WAIT! What do you know of the Vanir? My father wiped them out while their godhood was still young and they barely had influence. He’s made it so they’re seen as nothing more than a myth.” states Bragi.

  “Bragi...” starts Jupiter. “Your father IS quite powerful. But wiping out the famed Vanir? I don’t think even he has THAT much power.”

  At this point, Jupiter had Ezra’s and Bragi’s undivided attention. It was a known fact among all the pantheons that Borr had decimated the Vanir eons ago. One of his father’s most heinous acts. Unbeknownst to either of them, it was why so many of the gods enforced The Pact. Borr was a cosmic tornado left unchecked. No one really wanted anything to do with him, if they could help it. Bragi nor Jupiter had even been born yet—that’s how long ago this happened.

  “What do you know, Oly—Jupiter?” asked Bragi.

  “Enough. And that is ALL I know, until I can deem you trustworthy.” replied Jupiter.

  “I can respect that.” Bragi says. “Now, Ezra. Any news on those twin boys?”

  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Philadelphia, PA

  10:34 PM

  “Who the hell were those guys?” the young man thought to himself.

  Making himself a bowl of cereal, he couldn’t help but think about what had transpired a few days ago. Less than a week ago, he was the weirdest, but also strongest, person walking on the planet. He had a feeling that it wouldn’t be the case for too much longer. That couldn’t be a good thing.

  Elijah Foster was the result of an experiment gone wrong. And not one that he’d signed up for. He served in the military from age eighteen to twenty-six. When he died. Which is what the world believed when he was captured by enemy forces in the nation of Jerunia. The military scientists that Elijah found himself in the hands of had implanted Millonium nanotechnology (the strongest metal on the planet—and in the universe) implants into his body. There were different kinds of implants—completely replacing his spine, as well as repairing damage, cuts, or bruises. They also enhanced his strength and a plethora of other things, but he still had no idea of the full capacities the microscopic computers actually held. Standing at six foot four, Elijah had a “caramel” complexion with deep waves cut into a short Caesar cut. He was a handsome ladies' man with a deep voice and beautiful smile. Two hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle adorned his figure. The man was an adonis.

  His parents had been married for over twenty years before his mother went missing. This sent his father, a retired military veteran, into a spiral of drinking and the constant feeling of being useless. He’d barely left the house and became severely depressed. Elijah couldn’t sit around and watch. He also wanted his younger sister, Erica, to have her pick of colleges when the time came. He knew that before he could return to them, he’d need to make sure that is was safe. So, he’d been watching them from a distance for two years as his payment from the military helped with rent and her college fund. It was the least that he could do, having had watched his own funeral. He’d longed for the day when he could be with his family again.

  Turning on the television in his small studio apartment that he held in Philadelphia, Elijah sat plopped down in the recliner he’d gotten from a yard sale. He spilled a little milk on his shirt as he sat, whispering “shit” as he wiped it away with his thumb. He sat the cereal box next to the recliner on the floor, for his second bowl. The news report returns from commercial break.

  “Thanks for staying with us, guys. Still no news about the mysterious beings that appeared in Trenton a few days ago. The death toll is at two hundred.” a woman news anchor says on the television.

  Elijah watches as he eats.

  “The mysterious man that’s been apprehending criminals in the tri-state area made an appearance. We still don’t know who he is or where he’s from, but in normal fashion; he was helping to keep the people safe.”

  Elijah smiled. He didn’t quite care to be a hero. Like... at all. He just hated when people put the lives of innocent people in danger. Children, especially. So, he’d use these abilities to help those in need... or whatever.

  “Commissioner Valdez, any comments?” the woman asks.

  The police commissioner appears on screen. She’s a Latino woman, mid-thirties, long brown hair and glasses. She has on a blue button-down shirt and blue slacks.

  “Yes. I’d just like to say that we’re still trying to apprehend this young man. It may seem like he’s being helpful, but we have officers for these sorts of things. He doesn’t realize what he may be inspiring and it isn’t clear whether he’s working with those... things that appeared in Trenton or not. The truth; we know nothing.” the woman states.

  “That much is clear.” the anchor states. “He’s been HELPING. And making more of a difference than any police force.”

  “For now. We’ve been working with McClellan Industries, who will be implementing a task force in all the major cities in the country. While what happened and what has been happening is devastating, we will remain vigilant and do our jobs to protect the people.” replies the commissioner.

  She then walks off, followed by several police officers.

  “President Dunn is scheduled to make an announcement tomorrow morning. You’ve heard it here, first. Channel 21 News. This is Aaliyah Montrose. Have a wonderful night, folks.” says the news anchor.

  Elijah flips through the channels before finding some cartoons to watch and eventually dozing off.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------