Chương 39: Chapter No.39 'There, you will find him'

[Third Person's POV]

"Can I ask what are the gods of two pantheon are doing here~"

The air grew tense as the space tear in the shimmering barrier pulsed with an overwhelming energy, distorting the surrounding atmosphere. From within the tear, a figure stepped forward, cloaked in an aura of divine authority that seemed to demand reverence. The newcomer's voice, soft yet layered with an edge of amusement, sent shivers through even the most composed of the gathered deities.

A figure emerged—a blue-skinned man with a radiant yet intimidating presence. His dark hair shimmered faintly as though infused with stardust, and his piercing golden eyes seemed to see through the very essence of those before him. A faint smile tugged at his lips, though it was impossible to tell whether it was born of amusement or irritation.

Four arms rested at his sides, each holding something in its grasp. One holding a Conch while on the other hand's index finger, a rotating Chakra—an unmistakable symbol of his divine authority—spun lazily, emitting a faint hum that resonated with immense power. In the third hand, he carried a golden mace, its surface etched with intricate carvings that glowed faintly, and in the fourth, a lotus flower, a stark contrast to the other objects, yet radiating an otherworldly calm.

The figure's gaze swept over the gods gathered at the barrier—Aphrodite, Artemis, Freyja, and Mimir—each of them instinctively standing a little straighter under his piercing golden stare. His presence alone was enough to fill the space with a profound sense of both serenity and dominance.

The man tilted his head slightly, his faint smile widening just a fraction. "I asked once, but I don't like repeating myself. What brings you here, gods of the Greek and Norse pantheons, to a place where you do not belong?"

"Aye, Lord V-Vishnu," Mimir stepped forward with his head bowed on which pores of sweat glistened despite his composed demeanour. "Our purpose is not one of intrusion but... something concerning our pantheon... Can we talk more in private... please?"

"A private conversation, you say?" Vishnu's smile deepened as he regarded Mimir with an amused glint in his eyes. "Very well. But make it quick, for I have little patience for games."

Mimir nodded respectfully, his usual calm demeanour slightly shaken by the immense presence of the deity before him. He turned toward Freyja to follow signaling her to follow his lead.

"You two follow my friend and wait for me to come," Lord Vishnu said to Aphrodite and Artemis to follow the huge eagle-like figure which appeared just as Vishnu's words hung in the air, heavy with an unspoken power.

The divine eagle, its feathers glistening like molten gold, appeared as if summoned by the mere thought of Vishnu's command. The creature's large wings stretched wide, casting a shadow over the gathered gods, an imposing symbol of the vast authority Vishnu wielded. The eagle's piercing eyes glimmered with a knowing intelligence, while its aura radiated an almost celestial stillness.

Aphrodite, though brimming with frustration, looked to Artemis. Her lips parted to protest, but Artemis laid a hand gently on her arm, her eyes locking with her in silent understanding. The calm of Artemis, even in the face of Vishnu's overwhelming presence, was a sharp contrast to Aphrodite's burning desire.

"Let us follow," Artemis said softly, her voice steady, as if guiding Aphrodite back from the edge of her impatience. "We have no choice but to comply. For now."

Aphrodite let out an almost inaudible huff but gave a reluctant nod. She stepped forward, her aura flickering with an intense and restless energy. Despite her desire to push the situation further, something about Vishnu's presence made her hold her tongue.

Mimir, still slightly flustered by the sudden appearance of Vishnu, bowed deeply to the god. He looked at Freyja, signalling her to follow. The Norse goddess gave him a single nod before stepping alongside the others, her golden eyes narrowing slightly, not out of suspicion but with the calculation of someone who knew the importance of treading carefully in the realm of gods.

"You two come with me," Leaving behind Aphrodite and Artemis, Lord Vishnu led Mimir and Freyja inside the space tear opened by him.

Just as Mimir and Freyja stepped on the other side of the space tear, the world around them shifted dramatically. The once shimmering barrier that separated the realms now seemed like a distant memory.

They found themselves on a vast platform suspended in the seas with a massive, coiled serpent with thousands of heads writhing in the distance, its immense size casting a shadow over the ocean beneath them. The platform was surrounded by an infinite sea, stretching out as far as the eye could see, with distant stars twinkling in the sky above, far from the reach of mortals. It felt like they were standing on the edge of existence itself, where the divine realms converged in an ethereal blend of celestial beauty and raw power.

Vishnu led the way with his characteristic grace, his presence dominating the space around him. He motioned for Mimir and Freyja to follow, his golden eyes scanning the horizon, the divine symbols rotating around him gently as if in tune with the rhythm of the universe itself.

"Welcome to my domain," Vishnu spoke calmly, but his voice carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes, vibrating with the resonance of ages. "It is a place where the laws of the cosmos converge. Here, we can speak without the interference of petty gods or rules."

"H-He is e-even bigger than Jörmungandr..."

Mimir's voice trembled as he glanced at the enormous serpent in the distance, his wise eyes wide in awe. The serpent, with its countless heads, was a being of unimaginable size, dwarfing even the mythic Jörmungandr of Norse lore. Its very presence seemed to distort the space around it, a reminder of the infinite power and complexity of the divine realms.

Freyja, too, seemed taken aback by the sheer scale of the scene, her golden eyes narrowing as she took in the sight. Her usual composure wavered slightly, though she quickly regained her typical serene posture. "This is beyond what I expected..."

"Ah~ Sheshnaag, Indeed he is a being of unimaginable power," Vishnu remarked, his voice calm and steady despite the vastness of the creature before them. "Sheshnaag is the guardian of the realms, a divine being whose very presence stabilizes the flow of energies across the multiverse. His heads are said to watch over every corner of existence, his gaze piercing the boundaries of all that is."

Mimir, still processing the enormity of the scene, nodded slowly, his awe tempered by a scholar's curiosity. "So this is where you reside? It feels as though the very essence of the cosmos is contained within this place."

Vishnu's smile deepened, his golden eyes flickering with ancient wisdom. "In a way, yes. This is a Vaikuntha, my humble abode. But we are not here to discuss my home but the reason you have come." Vishnu's tone shifted slightly, a subtle seriousness creeping into his voice. He turned to face Mimir and Freyja, his four arms now folded gracefully before him, the divine symbols continuing to rotate faintly around his form.

"The cosmos is vast, and the threads of fate intertwine in ways that mortals and even gods cannot always foresee. Yet, you stand here, within my domain, asking for my time. You would not have come unless it was of great importance. So, speak."

Freyja stepped forward and with a slight bow of her head, "I am Freyja, Goddess of Vanir and this is Mimir said to be the wisest man in our realm. We come with an urgent matter concerning the very existence of our pantheon. There was a prophecy in our pantheon about its destruction in which a giant wolf named Fenrir was meant to kill... Odin, when the time comes. So we sealed the wolf for centuries but... somehow the wolf escaped. And we believe he has taken refuge in your realm."

The words hung heavy in the air as Freyja finished speaking, her gaze unwavering from Vishnu's. Her serene exterior belied the urgency in her voice, and Mimir stood silent, his hands clasped behind his back, awaiting the god's response. Vishnu's golden eyes flickered momentarily as he processed the information, the divine symbols rotating more rapidly now, as though attuned to the shifting energy in the air.

"The wolf Fenrir…" Vishnu murmured, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue. "A creature of immense power, tied to the very fate of your pantheon. How curious that such a being has found refuge here."

He looked out across the vast ocean, his eyes narrowing as he focused on something distant in the cosmic expanse. "Interesting~"

"So what do you want to do?" Lord Vishnu turned his gaze onto the Freyja.

Freyja stood tall, unflinching in the face of Vishnu's piercing gaze. Her golden eyes met his with quiet determination, and she steadied herself before speaking again.

"We wish to know if you have seen this creature in your realm. Our information suggests he has slipped into the far corners of your domain, hiding where we cannot reach him." Freyja's voice, though soft, carried the weight of a goddess desperate for answers.

Mimir remained silent, his expression thoughtful, though the tension in the air was palpable. The serpent, Sheshnaag, seemed to stir in the distance, its countless heads watching the gathering with an ancient awareness that made the very air hum with anticipation.

Vishnu regarded them both for a long moment, his golden eyes scanning the horizon before returning to Freyja. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, but it was laced with an unreadable expression.

"To find a creature like Fenrir within the expanse of this realm is no simple task," Vishnu said, his voice taking on a more contemplative tone. "The threads of fate may be malleable, but even I do not hold dominion over every being that enters or exits this domain."

He paused, his gaze shifting toward the ocean, as if contemplating the vastness of the realms that stretched infinitely before them.

"However..." Vishnu's voice dropped slightly, the tone sharpening with a hint of knowing, "You are correct in your assumption. There is something stirring here. Something... ancient." His golden eyes flickered as he fixed his gaze back on the pair before him.

Freyja's heart quickened, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "You know where he is."

Vishnu's smile grew, but there was a touch of mystery to it now, as though he were savouring a secret just beyond reach. "Perhaps. But it is not so simple as pointing to a place and saying, 'There, you will find him.'"