Author's Note: Cover image was found on Tumblr, thus making it impossible to truly track. If the creator does not want me using their image as the cover for my story, then I will take the image down.

Another thing-I will occasionally put in suggestions for songs to listen to while reading to help create the effect of the story. It's your call whether or not you choose to listen to the song. Enjoy the fic!


Chapter 1: Welcome to the Grid

Where in the Nine Realms am I?

A figure opened his eyes, and looked around. He saw that he was being brought down on some sort of platform, and that he was held to it by a set of clear objects binding his feet. His staff was gone, and he was without the full extent of his armor. He was bound and gagged.

What is this place?

As the platform seemingly locked into place, he observed that the room was almost entirely grey and dark. He soon heard a series of strange noises-one that he could not describe, then a series of clicks, and then what sounded like metal coming closer. He turned his attention to what he thought were just oddly-patterned white lights, but as the sounds came closer, four Midgardian woman figures revealed themselves. They looked practically identical, and their movements were synchronized. They stopped very close to him, surrounding him on all four corners. This made him feel a bit awkward.

"Begin arming process."

Two of the four suddenly had their pointer fingers ignite, cutting his chains and gag, but they soon cut lines into his clothes. The other two proceeded to strip him down to his undergarments. He screeched when his clothes were taken away from him.

"You imbeciles! Give my garments back to me-what sorcery is this?!"

Out of nowhere, a black suit materialized on him. The women turned and moved towards the walls, which opened and revealed an array of what he could only assume was some sort of armor.

"He's different."

They returned to his side, and slammed it on to him, without caring that he wasn't just some weapon or tool. His eyes widened as, suddenly, lines on the suit actually lit up a bright green. A strange version of his staff was shoved into his hand-the core was still blue, but it was black with green lights in it. He then heard yet another strange noise, one he wasn't sure what it was.

"ATTENTION PROGRAM. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN IDENTITY DISC."

One of the four women walked over towards the rising rectangular structure that held some sort of ring that had glowing green external and internal borders.

"EVERYTHING YOU DO OR LEARN WILL BE IMPRINTED ON THIS DISC. IF YOU LOSE YOUR DISC OR FAIL TO FOLLOW COMMANDS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE DERESOLUTION."

By now, the woman had returned, handing what he assumed to be called an "Identity Disc" to her companion. It was passed to yet another until one of the two behind him was holding it. With a nod, he felt it being forcefully placed on and locked into his back. He heard a series of noises, and felt a strange pulse for a moment.

"Marrying complete. Disc activated and synchronized. Proceed to Games."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Games?"

The women seemingly disappeared into the walls with another series of clicks and the strange noises. He turned to look at the only one that hadn't seemingly gone to sleep.

"And just what am I supposed to do during these games, you mewling quim?"

"Survive."

His eyes widened, and before he could demand answers, she fell into what he assumed was a deep slumber. A massive door in front of him opened, causing a powerful gust of wind to come rushing in and a blinding light to follow suit, forcing him to shield his eyes. After a bit, the wind calmed and the light faded, revealing a strange pathway made of strange shapes, shades of blue, and white lights. Seeing no other way, he walked forward.

"Survive… I've been doing that for many years, you fools. This will be mere child's play."

He stepped out of the room he was in, unaware of what fate had in store…


What is Odin's name is this place?

A man looked around, noticing that he was being brought down on a strange platform. A set of clear objects bound his feet. His weapon was gone, which disturbed him. His armor was gone, but that was of no disturbance to him-he had changed to his civilian form upon winning a battle. The platform locked into place, and then he heard a series of noises-ones that his beloved had described to him as "beeping", followed by clicking. He then noticed a series of white lights, in a pattern of which his mate had described to him as "cybernetic" and the shade of which she described as "neon". He heard things getting closer to him, and saw that the light patterns were actually on the suits of what looked like four Midgardian women, but he was certain that they were not ordinary Midgardian women.

"Can any of you tell me what in the Nine Realms is going on here-"

"Begin arming process."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Arming process? What in the name of-what do you think you are doing to me?! Do not touch me-No!"

Two of the four women proceeded to reveal that their pointer fingers had what he assumed to be some variety of the "laser cutter" that he had been somewhat educated about inside them, and they used it to cut lines in his clothes. The other two proceeded to rip them off, leaving him in a most embarrassing state-nothing more than his underwear. He flushed, and looked around nervously. The women watched as a strange black suit materialized on him. As it materialized, he was a bit awestruck, but also worried.

"This cannot be a good omen…'

The women, in perfect synchronicity, proceeded to turn away from him, and walk over to the walls of the dark room he was currently trapped in. Small sections opened, revealing a variety of what he assumed to be a strange armor. They picked it up, and slammed it on him. One of the women proceeded to give him a strange version of his hammer-the emblems on both sides were now aglow with "neon" red light patterns, the etching on the ends was also aglow with matching light patterns, and the spiral line that went along the handle was shining with the same unholy red light. He stared at it in shock.

"What sorcery is this?! What have you done to my Mjolnir-"

He then was cut off by a series of "whirring" noises, and he watched as a strange rectangular object arose out of the ground. Inside it was a strange object, something he had never seen before. One of the women turned around, and went to retrieve the object.

"ATTENTION PROGRAM. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN IDENTITY DISC."

The woman returned with the "Identity Disc, and handed it to one of her comrades.

"EVERYTHING YOU DO OR LEARN WILL BE IMPRINTED ON THIS DISC. IF YOU LOSE YOUR DISC OR FAIL TO FOLLOW COMMANDS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE DERESOLUTION."

His eyes widened. Was "deresolution" the term used to describe killing others? The term for death in this realm?

The woman handed the "Identity Disc" to another one of her comrades, behind him. He felt it being shoved onto his back, and turned slightly, locking it into place. He heard a series of "beeping" noises, and felt a strange pulse.

"Marrying complete. Disc activated and synchronized. Proceed to Games."

His eyes widened again.

"Games?"

He saw the women begin to walk backwards.

"Where are you going? Wait!"

Three of them disappeared, seemingly entering a dormant state. The fourth one stopped just as she was about to enter her sleeping pod.

"What am I supposed to do in these 'Games' you speak of?"

"Survive."

She joined her companions, entering dormancy. He was shocked. The clear objects holding him to the platform suddenly went into the platform, freeing him. He took a few steps back, regaining his balance. The doors in front of him opened, causing a powerful gust of wind to rush in and a blinding light to follow suit.

"Just what is so wrong with this realm that there is something called the 'Games' in which the objective is that you are supposed to survive?"

The light dimmed and the wind faded, and he just stared for a moment at the strange road ahead of him. He looked around, and saw no other way out.

"I have no choice, it seems… Forgive me, Father…"

He walked forward, certain that there would be many tough battles ahead of him…