A/N: Pat-reon: HelloDarkness07.
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Dark Realm, as I called this place, is entirely accurate. The entire place was filled with darkness, with the only light being an ominous white light that came from above.
The Realm of the Gods Above Gods (GAGs), wasn't that big, but it was strategically placed. Now that I was inside the Realm, I could see that over the years, these GAGs had connected their Realm to all the other Realms. Asgard, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Swartalfheim, Jotunheim, Alfheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, and even Midgard.
Thankfully, somehow, these Gods don't have any pull on Midgard. That can be attributed to either the presence of other Pantheons, Agamotto's sanctums, or the presence of 4 Elder Gods in the form of Mother, Oshtur, Agamotto, and Hoggoth.
Whatever the reason, I'm glad they don't have the power to do as they wish on Midgard.
In this Dark Realm, there were 5 beings, all of them more than 30 feet tall. I couldn't see their faces, and only a general shape of their bodies were visible in this low light. What I could see though, was that two of them were distinctly female, while the remaining three were male.
Most important of all, was the fact that all five of them looked, and felt similar to the Gods of Asgard. One even wore a helm similar to the one Thor wore.
Loki and Buri were silent beside me, all three of us staring at the five gigantic beings in front of us.
"Buri?" I whisper, taking care not to do any big movements. While my Cosmic Energy can definitely hide us, if we do anything eye catching, then they'll be bound to notice us. As Buri hums in acknowledgement, I ask, "Why do they look like Asgardians?"
"Later. We should find a place to place the explosive device first. Somewhere that will kill them, and destroy this Realm at the same time." Buri replies, whispering like me.
Loki points at a spot, and asks, "What about that spot? Equal distance from each of those Gods, and it's also the spot that has the connection to Nornheim."
Glancing at the spot in the centre of the U shape the GAGs were seated in, I nod, and say, "That could work. It looks like the place that might do the most harm."
Buri hums, and says, "Damn. This place is good. Asgardian Magic won't work here, Theos. Even I'm finding it hard to cast a simple diagnosis spell."
I raise an eyebrow at that, and ask, "Will you be able to do it though? When the time comes?"
Buri waves his hand negligently, waving the worries away. Loki frowns, and asks, "But how will we come here again? I don't think Theos will be agreeable to bring us here with an explosive."
"Damn right I won't. Our deal does not include me dying, Loki." I mumble, wondering how they'll do it.
Buri snorts, and says, "Don't worry your pretty little head about that, grandson. I'll take care of that."
"How, and why?" Loki asks, looking at his great grandfather.
Buri glares at the Gods in front of us, and replies, "These bastards have killed my descendants 450 times. They're dying by my hand. And as for how? I just said, don't worry about it."
Loki looks at Buri for a minute, but nods, acquiescing.
We stay there for another few minutes, silently looking all around the Realm, looking for anything that can help us. It was while we were behind the Thrones, observing the portal leading to Helheim, that we hear something shocking.
"So, the Norns failed us again. They're dead." One God says, his voice dripping scorn with every word.
One of the two Goddesses adds, "The Gods' Bane was too violent for them to make a deal with. They were bound to die."
"At least the plan worked, just as We expected. He is on his way to Asgard. If only He didn't have the need to destroy everything in his path before he did that, it would have been perfect. Tch. I would have preferred Nornheim to not be his target." Their leader says, bringing an end to an argument before it began.
"The tapestries have begun blurring. I can tell that the Aesir are trying something. Whatever it is, Her son is a part of it." The other female goddess says.
I share a glance with Buri at that, while Loki looks on with his entire focus. So they know about me, and they're manipulating someone called Gods' Bane to come to Asgard. But the Norns are dead? It explains why Nornheim was abandoned, other than Thor and the residents of the palace of the Norn Queen, Karnilla. But if the Gods are right, then Nornheim is about to be destroyed by this Gods' bane.
Buri nods at me, signalling me that it's time to leave. Slowly, I move the Bubble to go towards the portal leading to Yggdrasil, and start going through.
"SOMEONE'S HERE!" the Leader booms out, as the portal opens up to let us through. Before they can do anything to stop us, I push the bubble, and us through the portal, and back into the Yggdrasil.
"Be quick!" Buri yells, as we come back to the Yggdrasil.
Nodding at him, I take us speeding towards the room that Loki took me to, while feeling that someone was looking for us. The Scrying spell thankfully failed, thanks to the Cosmic Energy bubble surrounding me, and we land haphazardly in the room that houses the branch of Yggdrasil.
"That… The Norns are dead!" Loki mumbles, looking around at us. He then stands up and starts running outside, yelling, "Odin needs to know this!"
I stand up to go after him, but Buri stops me. He says, "Let him. Those Bastards up above don't know much about you. If they think that Loki was eavesdropping, let them."
I nod, not agreeing, but seeing the benefit of keeping my powers hidden. I ask, "Who is this Gods' Bane?"
Buri shrugs. He says, "Could be anyone. I myself have fought with literally hundreds of beings that one time or the other carried that title. We should be ready though, because if someone can kill the three Norns, then they're definitely dangerous. They might not look much, but they're Witches of their own might."
I sigh, and start my trek back to my room. Turning back to Buri, I ask, "What will you do now?"
Buri smiles mysteriously, and answers, "I think I'll have a talk with my grandson. Rest up, Theos. A few days is all we have before the true battles start."
~~~
It's been 2 days since our trip to the Dark Realm, and I have to say, I'm disappointed in Odin. When he heard that the Norns were killed by someone, and that the killer was on his way to Nornheim, he simply sent the Warriors Three, along with Lady Sif to Nornheim.
We haven't heard anything from them, but Heimdall was keeping watch. Unfortunately, Heimdall is unable to see that Being that killed off the Norns, this Gods' Bane. So, I wasn't hopeful that the Warriors Three would survive.
Not my problem anyway.
Plus, he now knows about the Gods above Gods, well more than he knew before. Finding that every Realm in the Yggdrasil, other than Midgard, are under their domain, is a sobering thought for a control freak such as Odin.
But, frustrating troubles or not, the Realms were still under pressure. Swartalfheim, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, all Four Realms, along with the Rock Trolls, against Asgard and it's allies, Alfheim, Vanaheim, and Nidavellir.
Thankfully, Alfheim had taken the responsibility to take care of Swartalfheim, Vanaheim for Jotunheim, and Nidavellir for the Rock Trolls. Leaving Niflheim and Muspelheim for Asgard. But, there were bound to be irregularities there.
No one in Alfheim was strong enough to fight the Dark Elf Malekith of Swartalfheim. Same for Ulik the Rock Troll, and Uroc the Uru Warrior, if he participated in the war. The relations between Uroc and the Rock Trolls were.. not very good.
Vanaheim could handle Jotunheim pretty good, with just a squadron or two of soldiers from Asgard necessary to help them. As for Niflheim and Muspelheim, that was a bit hard to describe.
From what I understand, Hela's army has literally every soldier that went to Hel, while Surtur's army is filled with Fire Giants, Fire Demons, and even dragons. Hodr, the Winter God was going to be the leader of the army that is going to battle Muspelheim, leaving Surtur for Odin himself.
Meanwhile, Thor was going to lead the fight against Hela. Loki was going to fight Malekith, and stall until either the bomb explodes, or until help arrives. I.. was just there. I had no fixed position for now, and would focus on Malekith first.
However, if someone more dangerous appears, then I will leave Malekith to fight them. Of course, this was just considering that everything goes according to plan.
Also, this whole plan does not count a few more important participants, particularly Loki's children Fenrir and Jormungandr, if he still wants to join in dying in a blaze of glory. Heimdall could probably take one of them, but definitely not both of them. And Thor and Odin are destined to die by the two brothers' hands, or jaws, so I have no idea how it'll go. I have received zero visions about Ragnarok.
Honestly, I don't even see the purpose of fighting. Literally the whole lot of them are going to be killed within the week. But.. they're Vikings, so, yeah. I sort of understand. I don't agree, but I understand.
Finally, after 2 days of absence, Loki deigned to show himself to me. Ever since he had run off to inform Odin about the Gods' Bane, he had kept away from me. And now, he has returned. Even Buri hadn't appeared to explain a few things, so I should probably call him soon.
"Finally got over your fear of Celestials?" I ask Loki, knowing that the room is as secure as it can get.
Loki scowls, and argues, "I am not afraid of Celestials, let alone someone like you."
"Careful, Loki. Your Odinson is showing." I smirk, and point him towards a chair in front of me.
Loki sits down, and says, "I wanted time for myself, to think. And I realized something."
"What?" I ask, feeling curious.
Loki says, "You're Theos Jordson, more than a Million years younger than me. Celestial or not, you're still the one that's willing to save all of my children, and I appreciate that."
I acknowledge his statement with a bow, and ask, "Shall we get going then? Better to take the kids before the actual war starts."
Loki sighs, and says, "Sure. Why not?"
Time to meet the children of Loki. All of them.
~~~
A/N: Next chapter will probably be full of these meetings with the children, and then taking them away.
Soon, the war will start, and Rune Prince Thor will make his presence known!
Anyway, thanks for the support! Tata!