Baldur groaned as he sat up, his bones cracked as his body repaired the damage caused by the giant. He is disappointed, and angry. He underestimated that giant, got himself killed and most of all… he was made a fool of and that… that infuriated him.

All he wanted was answers but that giant had to act proud and refused to cooperate.

But Baldur admitted, he enjoyed it, the battle with that giant. He never faced a jotün before—his brother felled the entire race.

Would have been better if that jotün turned all big and lumbering, he would have liked to test his mettle against that.

He quite liked it—fighting, looking for those strong enough to make me him feel. It was one of few things he still found enjoyable since that witch devoid him of all sensation, to feel and taste.

He clenched his fists and growled, Fath-no... the Allfather gave him a mission he so desperately wants to complete, the promise of a way to break the curse is an opportunity too hard to pass and it may have slipped away all because of that giant.

Now he would have to prove to the Allfather that he is capable of completing the mission, lest that old bastard sends some other Aesir—his brother—do what Baldur failed to do.

No, he wouldn't allow that. He'll pass whatever trial that old bastard gives him.

After he passes the trial he'll come for that giant and whoever else was in that house and he'll show...

Them...

Baldur blinked and cursed. It seems that the giant disposed of his body…elsewhere as he doesn't recognize where he is, in front of him was a 'mountain' of… things. Walking closer to the monstrosity in front of him he examined it, touching one of the objects he could see dirt and rust flaking off on his finger.

Another 'mountain' caught his eye, the monstrosity twice as large as the one in front of him, looking around him there was another, and another and another. He felt both enraged and disgusted, the giant disposed of his body in a landfill, he disrespected him. Baldur, the God of Light.

He roared in anger, plucking a slab of metal from the ground he smashed it against the trash heap. Pieces of junk flew everywhere and landed back down on the disgusting ground, splashing foul murky water on Baldur as one landed on a puddle.

That giant infuriated him even more.

To insult a god… most especially, him. Baldur. He smirked, he'll enjoy hurting that jotün a second time.

A whirring noise caught his attention, he smirked at the prospect of a fight, he needed to blow off some steam before he returned to Asgard, he wouldn't want to destroy the place by fighting his brother.

Turning, he didn't expect, that the source of the noise was a big… thing barreling towards him. It was still miles away but with his keen eyes he could make out what it looked like. It was black on white, square and wings jutted from the body with glowing circles present at the wing tips.

The hideous beast was fast, reaching Baldur in less than two seconds. That impressed him, even his dragon wasn't that fast.

Baldur snorted and shook his head, a beast can't take on a god. He'll show the creature. Squaring his body he prepared to take whatever manner of attack it would unleash.

As it got closer, it slowed, stopping to hover only meters from him.

"What the?..." a benevolent creature? Baldur smirked, it doesn't matter he'll rip off its wings regardless.

The beast jerked, Baldur tensed, knowing a wild animal would attack unprovoked.

He was confused however as hatches opened from the bottom and jutted… feet?

The beast landed its whirring slowly died out, but Baldur remained tense, still expecting a fight.

Baldur heard it clunk and shortly a 'mouth' opened and stood a woman, dark-skinned and tall, her hair pinned back. She dressed oddly, managing to both look hideous and elegant. Making her way towards him, she fiddled with an odd contraption that Baldur didn't recognize.

"Lucky me, two in one day, " she said, confusing Baldur.

She was already halfway down the ramp when they both turned as a number of whirring sounds made itself known, several more monstrosities flew towards them. They were all even more hideous than the 'beast' in front of him. Their bodies big and square, somehow managing to fly without wings.

It landed close to him, making the same clunking sound as a ramp opened revealing over a dozen men. They exited the vessel and Baldur observed them, they were all clutching the same strange contraption the dark-skinned wench had, their clothing was even more revulsive however as they wore brightly colored dresses that contrasted disgustingly against the dirt and grime that caked them.

From the rabble a man stepped forward, he was 'better' dressed than the others and certainly cleaner.

"He's ours, right boys," he said with a scratchy voice. The rabble roared in unison, answering him.

The woman snorted, Baldur watched her roll her eyes, seemingly unintimidated by the large group. "I found him first. Besides, haven't I dealt with you earlier?"

The leader of the rabble growled. Gesturing towards his men, they all raised their strange contraptions and pointed it at the woman. "We outnumber you, bitch. Don't leave and we eat you out."

The woman cackled, "How vulgar." she trained her contraption at the leader of the rabble.

The air was tense, the younger fellows jittered with nervousness. Those older smirked and looked eager.

And Baldur… Baldur was confused as he watched the scene in front of him, he hated being confused.

He needed to return, to get back to Asgard and speak with the Allfather and do that.

He needed answers.

Baldur grinned, he made his decision.

Runic tattoos flickered to life and emitted a bluish-white glow. Light streaked behind him as he rocketed towards the leader of the rabble and grabbed his neck.

The man's eyes widened in surprise and fear as Baldur clutched his neck and squeezed. "Mortal, I have questions that need answering, answer them, I let you and your rabble live. Don't." Baldur smirked, "I tear all of you limb from limb, starting with you." Baldur reached for the man's shoulder and pulled, satisfied when he heard a pop.

The leader's eyes darted from side to side, desperately looking at his men. "S-sh… shoot 'im."

His subordinates stood frozen and hesitant, quaking in their boots. One was courageous enough and pathetically reacted, he focused his contraption at Baldur.

His head snapped back as a bolt of light struck him in his cheek. Seeing this, those who were frozen snapped out of their dazed states and followed the brave fool as they all shot Baldur.

The smell of burnt flesh invaded Baldur's nose as countless bolts of light struck him, he allowed the fools to pepper his body, hoping that he would feel something and only scowled as once again, he felt nothing.

He turned his gaze towards the man in his hand and shook his head as the leader limped lifelessly in his grasp, "You idiot mortals."

Squeezing his hand be chucked the dead man towards a pair of huddled mortals who died instantly from the impact, their weak bodies flopped pathetically to the ground.

Surging towards a pathetic mortal, Baldur grinned when the mortal's face twisted in agony as Baldur drove his arm through his chest.

Light and blood trailed behind him, limbs and entrails soared through the air as he tore through several more mortals.

"I've tried being diplomatic," he growled.

Grabbing a dismembered head he smiled and hurled it at the pathetic cover the mortals used, utterly obliterating it.

He heard yells and barked orders behind him. Twirling, an object was thrown at him, it struck his chest and bounced back to roll on the ground. "...huh?" the thing flashed, it was a strange ball. Picking it up he examined it, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Boom!

His ears rang and he was violently thrown back when the ball exploded. He glanced down and examined the extent of the damage. The skin was charred and half his arm was missing, molten metal stuck to his skin and pink entrails could be seen through the hole in his stomach, not that he cared, he couldn't feel it anyways.

Grunting, he stood and fanned away the black smoke that obscured his vision. As it cleared he saw the mortals stare at him with wide eyes.

Light wrapped around his body, he willed himself to heal faster. He smirked at their expressions, the look of fear and disbelief was rampant among them. "Is that all?"

"...m-monster!" one screamed.

They all scrambled, throwing several more balls at him. He smirked, gripping a pipe he yanked it from the ground and batted the balls back. He enjoyed their screams when they saw their weapons hurdling back towards them and exploded in a blaze of fire.

Baldur huffed, "Pathetic."

The mortals continued to shout behind their mounds, the words they used were foreign to him.

"...canon," he whispered, humming as the word danced bizarrely on his tongue.

A ship lurched, turning to face it he observed, atop the vessel a hatch opened, a tubular… thing emerged, he groans—he needed to learn the words for these bizarre contraptions. Baldur continued to watch, growing agitated when the thing whined like a whipped dog.

The whining soon reached its apex and it began to glow brightly.

Boom!

Baldur skidded back, creating a trench forty feet long. He grunted, seeing his arms and chest mangled. The thing whined once more, Baldur regenerated in seconds and rocketed towards the vessel.

Metal groaned beneath him as he stopped, clamping his hands on the weapon it shrieked as he pulled. His muscles tensed, building pressure in his legs he jumped skywards ripping the weapon from its mount and destroyed the vessel in the process.

In the air, weapon in hand he spotted a large concentration of mortals—a perfect target. Twirling his body once, twice, three times he gained momentum and catapulted the weapon towards them, finding satisfaction that the makeshift meteorite pulverized the fools.

Landing back down with a crash, the ground trembled as he unleashed his light. The fools and vessels caught in it were obliterated as the force tore through them, those who were farther away were none-the-better as they were crushed by fiery debris and toppled mountains.

Not all died however, he watched several survivors scatter, limping away from him, scampering towards their surviving vessels. He could kill them, it was all too easy—but he wasn't a bloodthirsty fool like his brother, he is Baldur, merciful and kind.

He exhaled audibly and shook his head, he is disappointed, mortals were no challenge to him. Mortals are weak pathetic creatures, fighting them is comparable to fighting an ant. He yearns for more, a worthy opponent.

He saw movement to his right, underneath a sheet of metal. He watched as it slowly rose, coughing emanated underneath it. Walking towards it he bent forward, placed his foot on the ledge and kicked the object back.

Baldur marveled at the woman from earlier. Bruised and bleeding but remarkably still alive, somehow she managed to survive the carnage.

He watched her eyes widened when she looked up at him. He smirked, "Well hello, mortal."

She blurred, in less than a second the woman stood and swung at Baldur, a pathetic attempt. Baldur caught her wild swing and twisted—her shrieks were music to his ears. "Is that how you greet a god, mortal?"

She glared at him and spat, the bodily fluid struck him in the eye. "You destroyed my ship."

Baldur frowned, that thing was a boat? Shaking his head he clamped a hand on her neck. She struggled against him, punching and clawing at his arm.

He had to admit, he is amused by her… and enticed. The way her body twisted around him was very arousing.

Maybe he'll keep her after he finds out where he is he'll return to Asgard, bring the dark-skinned bitch with him, kill that giant, break the curse and fuck her.

Yes.

The grip on her neck tightened, he pulled her close, their faces inches apart, "Answer me this mortal, where am I?"

She coughed, spittle hitting him in the face. "...f-fuck...you."

He groans, raising her high he slammed her against the ground. Her eyes begin to water as her struggle increased, panic filled her eyes.

Staring at her with his cold, piercing blue eyes he spoke through clenched teeth, "Don't fuck with me mortal, this is your last chance. Answer and I let you live. Don't. And I tear your arm off." she screamed in agony as Baldur squeezed her right arm communicating his threat.

"Nod your head," she glared at him in defiance. Growing agitated Baldur increased the pressure in her arm, her bone creaked and snapped from the pressure, blood drew from her lips as she bit them, a pathetic attempt to stifle her screams.

"Nod. Your fucking. Head." with each word he began to pull at her arm and heard it pop as he began to tear it off. The woman eventually nodded, Baldur smirked, he wouldn't want to fuck damaged goods.

"Took you long enough, tell me, mortal. Where am I?"

"Sa… Sa-sakaar." she stammered.

Baldur frowned, he has never heard of Sakaar, he needed more than a single name, the woman wasn't divulging the whole truth. "What realm!?" ne snapped, squeezing her neck. "Alfheim? Nornheim?"

Baldur is beginning to lose his patience, if the woman won't tell him he'll just find another fool to question.

The woman's eyes widened as he began to choker her. Once ebony face turned a shade purple, kicking, scratching and punching she desperately tried to break his hold and found it futile.

"Ca-can't… b-breath." she finally begged.

"...hmm." Baldur hummed and thought for a second, he took pleasure at seeing her struggle, he could kill her but that would be a waste of good meat, he reluctantly relieved the pressure of his grasp.

She greedily took in air, reminding him of a starved swine. The color of her face turned from purple to white to brown, the shift of pigmentation amused Baldur.

After she recovered he started again, clamping her neck with his hand, he squeezed tightly.

"I've let you breath, now answer me."

She stared him in the eyes and spoke, "Yo-you're an Aesir."

That piqued Baldur's interest, "So you know who I am, good. Tell me, how do I get to Asgard."

"I… don't know."

Baldur snapped, increasing the strength of his grip. "Bullshit, don't lie to me, bitch."

"I'm not lying! Believe me," she pleaded. "nothing leaves Sakaar.

He glared at her, "The Allfather."

"...is dead."

He whirled towards the new voice, the man who raggedly stood before him, he was tall and well built, thick cords of muscle stood in for arms. His long golden hair and bearded face looked bedridden. He wore a matched pair of armored tunic and tight-fitting trouser, his big red cape hung lazily, only clasped to one shoulder.

"What!?" Baldur said in disbelief. He shook his head, "You're trying to make a fool of me." he stood, "You lie!" he rocketed towards the newcomer, the force of his acceleration sent the woman crashing into a mound of rubble

Baldur's punch was slow and sloppy, but strong, the shockwave ravaged the earth as the blond man caught it and struggled against his strength.

The man breathed hard, "I... am… telling the truth."

Baldur growled, "I don't believe you." breaking free from the lock he backhanded the fool.

The man rested on one knee, wiping blood off his nose. "I am Thor, Son of Odin, Prince of Asgard," Thor spoke, "I do not lie, fellow Asgardian. Odin is dead, Hela, she needs to be stopped and I need to save Asgard." he looked at Baldur with steeled eyes.

Baldur paused, he gazed at the blond man, his expression masked with a scowl.

Slowly, his scowl twisted, a smile formed on his lips.

"Ha...haha...hahahahaha." Baldur cackled, he looked at Thor wiping tears from his eyes. "You...ha...honestly...haha...expect me to believe that horseshit...hahaha." Baldur continued to laugh.

"Ho-honestly," Baldur stammered, his laughter dying into a giggle. "if you were going to feed me horseshit you should have made it smell better first."

Thor's face twisted in anger, "I told you, fellow Asgardian. I am Thor Odinson, I would not lie about the state of our home."

Baldur coldly gazed at 'Thor', "Do you recognize me? Brother."

Thor's anger turned to confusion, "Who...Loki?"

Baldur frowned and clicked his tongue, "Just as I thought, you're a lunatic and a liar." he snarled, "I'll be taking your head brother."

Baldur rocketed towards Thor, skidding drunkenly as Thor evaded his attack.

"Loki is that you?" said Thor, the tone of his voice growing agitated. "Brother, if that is you know that I have no time to play your games."

Twirling, Baldur glared at Thor, "How fucking dumb do you think I am?!" he screeched, "You're not my brother! And I. Am not. Loki!" he raised his hands, his tattoos glowed, feeling his power through his veins he smashed his hands against the ground, the wave of dirt propelled Thor through the air, sending him crashing to a junkheap.

"Pathetic," Baldur taunted.

The trash heap moved as Thor unburied himself, "Hold, stranger, you and I have don't have to fight."

Baldur grunted, he was upon Thor in an instant and threw a flurry of haymakers.

Thor blocked his blows and blurred, he angled his body and pushed himself against Baldur's stomach, pinning the tattooed god against his shoulder. He grunted and jumped, launching both of them in the air, crashing into a mound of junk.

Baldur heard shuffling, looking up he sees 'Thor' snarling at him. Baldur smirked, slowly, he sat back up. "Is that the best you can do? Jump?"

Thor roared and charged, keen on introducing his boot to Baldur's mouth.

Crack!

Baldur's world exploded as he showered the ground with blood and teeth.

In an instant Thor was on top of him, pummeling his face, each blow sounded like thunderclaps.

Twisting, Baldur avoided a flurry of strikes, bucking up he threw Thor forward, the weight no longer pressed on his stomach, he rolled, flipping their positions. He grabbed Thor's leg as he stood up, heaving he hurled Thor away sending the fool careening towards a trash heap.

Baldur sauntered to where Thor smashed against, seeing him pathetically clamber to his feet Baldur dashed towards Thor and kicked him in the head.

"You are pathetic," he grabbed Thor by the collar and slammed him with a thunderous blow that shook the earth, launching him off the ground.

Baldur glowed as he followed after Thor, he grew amused as he watched Thor flail his arms like a child as he tried to right himself.

"Missed me?" grabbing Thor's neck, Baldur grappled with him, striking him twice in the face, he smirked as he saw a tooth fly off.

Thor roared and caught his arm, he squeezed, breaking bones. Hurling a backfist, he sent Baldur on an uncontrolled roll.

Their ascent stopped, the world around them slowed down as they began their descent.

Baldur gripped Thor's cape and pulled, throwing an uppercut that struck Thor on the back of his head.

Now their altitude matched, Thor jabbed a finger on Baldur's eye and gouged it out, not stopping, he buried his appendage deeper to strike brain matter. Baldur threw a hook that Thor caught, whirling he hurled Baldur to the ground. Baldur reacted swiftly and grabbed the fool's red cape and tugged.

Enveloping Thor in his arms he gazed upon the hastily approaching ground and laughed, twisting his body he angled himself to allow Thor to strike the ground first.