Hey! So I'm back from vacation and have finished writing Destruction! There is two chapters left. I will post the next chapter tomorrow evening. Tonight, here is the first part of the finale.
The Battle of Ragnarok had begun, and death loomed over all the realms with a wicked smile. The ground trembled and the monsters scream. Atop the cliff, Auzreha watched with horror.
From the ship of death and doom, Hel emerged. She sauntered out wearing shining black armor atop her savagely dark dress. Her feet slid into the water, and she waded onto shore with a look of malice plastered across her face. Her good eye immediately locked with a dark-haired female warrior across the battlefield.
Sif tensed, eyeing the Queen of the Dead with a tight grip on her double-bladed sword. She had waited years for this moment to come, when she could finally stick her blade into the the chest of the most wicked woman to ever walk across the realms. Wordlessly they started towards each other, each slitting the throats of any enemies who stepped in between them. When they stood twenty feet apart, Hel grinned. It was not a kind grin, it was a grin full of the terrors of the underworld.
"Ah," Hel cooed. "Thor's little pet. That's what you are, isn't it? After all, you are certainly not his lover." She trailed her eyes down Sif's body and made a face.
Sif raised her chin as a cold mask spread across her face, her eyes glittering with anger. "Lower your sword while you still have a chance and perhaps I will be more merciful with your death."
Hel laughed. "I can see why Thor chose Jane over you, the warrior in your heart has left little room for kindness."
"My heart has no place in this war," Sif growled. Around her, men screamed, blood splattered, and the battle raged. "This is between the realms, and I plan on defending mine until my last breath."
"That can be arranged." Hel slid blade out from it's sheath and charged.
Fandral and Volstagg ran up to Thor, each panting heavily with blood dripping from their weapons. Fandral ran a hand through his blond hair and then placed a hand on Thor's shoulder. The blue-eyed god turned from the roaring cries of Nidhogg as the wounded beast fell. His mouth curved upward in a tired smile at the sight of his closest men.
"My brothers, how do you fare?"
"This battle is agonizing." Volstagg growled. "There is no hope for any of us." Above them, a massive Fire Giant from Muspelheim swung a fist and crushed several of the Nidavellir dwarves. Bones crunched with a repulsive sound that would turn anyone's stomach inside out. From the sea, the serpent Jormungand lashed out, spewing venom on poor souls who stood too close. Thor watched the snake with fire in his eyes.
"Have faith," He spoke firmly. "We are Æsir and we do not surrender easily."
"You have a strong heart, Thor Odinson. Your father would be proud." Fandral dipped his head politely. Behind them, the serpent released more venom. Thor growled.
"This bastard snake must die," He swung his hammer, taking off with a whoosh. Volstagg glanced at Fandral, and then together they slowly looked up at the looming mass of bloodthirsty monsters in front of them.
A red-eyed, snarling Jotun charged at them. Volstagg lifted his mighty ax and swung the flat end against the head of the creature. It stumbled, leaving enough time for Volstagg to use the momentum of his swing to bring the weapon back around and slice the head clean off. Blood spurted. Fandral laughed, "Atta boy!" He turned, saw several more Jotuns racing at them with icy swords at the ready. Fandral smiled. "For Asgard!"
Swords clashes and fire burned. Blood ran like water through the battlefield and the sky was clouded over. The sun was swallowed from the sky by Skoll, one of the giant wolves from Helheim. At that moment, a reigning darkness stretched across all the realms. The only light was of the flames blazing from the Fire Giants' fists, and even that was barely enough to ignite hope in any man's heart. The heavens cried out in rage at what had become of the universe, and it lashed out in anger at the realms with thunder and lightning.
Skoll landed on the plains with a heavy thump, his canine companion Hati joining at his side. They turned to Volstagg and Fandral, snarling and snapping. Fandral got into a stance, gripping his sword with tight fingers. Against the orange hue of the fires, the wolves looked savage and wild - and Fandral didn't need full light to know that that was probably true. of them.
Fandral lept at Skoll before the beast made a move, aiming at the silvery pelt. Skoll lunged and crashed into him. They tumbled down in a ball of fur and skin.
Volstagg eyed Hati, waiting for the wolf to make a move first. His heart pounded wildly, and he could feel the sweat dripping down into his red beard that so desperately needed a brushing. When Hati finally lashed out a massive clawed paw, Volstagg was ready. He swung his axe, with the power of his love for this realm behind it.
Thor sauntered up to the writhing serpent, his brow furrowed and blue eyes blazing. His red cape blended in with his bloody surroundings, made him the colour of destruction in this chaotic mess.
He took a running start.
His legs pumped with all the wrath he had pent up, all the pain his brother - no, not his brother - had caused.
And he jumped.
The devastation was below him, and he was alone in the sky - until gravity claimed it's prize and he came crashing down. Thor slammed Mjölnir down as his body hit the ground on a peninsula that jutted out into the sea. A shudder rippled through the earth around him, catching the attention of Jormungand. The snake snapped it's head towards Thor, eyes narrowing. Then it jumped, diving into the rough waves. It was gone.
But Thor knew better.
He waited, listening to the sounds of his dying brothers behind him and staring into nothing. Until the water nearest him bubbled, and the waves rose higher. The black scales of the sea serpent surfaced so slowly, as if taunting him. Then the ghostly white eyes poked over the waves, the pupils nothing but slivers. Water dripped from the angular face and Jormungand opened his mouth to reveal a large set of fangs that looked more like curled claws than teeth. Thor felt his heart skip a beat, and Jane's face appeared in his mind. He held on to the image of her, hoping it would give him the strength.
It didn't.
When Jormungand lashed out Thor stumbled back and slipped as he lost his balance. He got to his feet quickly and took a deep breath. The snake coiled back, ready to strike again. This time, Thor began to twirl his hammer. He felt the power growing within the Dwarven forged weapon and when he released it from his grip it flew powerfully into the face of Jormungand, who hissed in pain. Mjölnir zoomed back into Thor's grasp.
"Would you like seconds?" Thor mocked the giant snake, and thereupon began a fight that left Thor panting and weak. Continuously slamming Mjölnir into the thick scales of the snake did not seem to be doing much apart from bruising the beast. Several times Jormungand nearly hit Thor with the venom and his cape was now tattered as the acid began to eat away at the fabric.
After another strike with Mjölnir's metal head, Thor realized he would need more power if he was to produce any real damage. He swung his hammer, and took off into the sky. Jormungand spat out jagged hisses as if he was laughing, believing that Thor had fled.
The blonde god's lip curled up in amusement. Thor landed on the opposite side of the plains atop the cliffs near Loki's little pet and where Heimdall watched over her with glittering gold eyes. From up here he could see Fandral and Volstagg battling the wolves, and he could even make out the dark figure of Hel fighting Sif. He allowed himself a casual glance around the area for Loki, whom he did not see. It bothered him more than he liked.
Then Thor backed up, dropped into a stance, swung Mjölnir, and took a running start. Then he was off, the wind slamming into his face as he flew viciously towards the giant serpent. The rush of the wind roared in his ears and he completely and utterly loved it. It was the sound of revenge.
Jormungand turned and saw Thor at the last minute, and in one final act of evil released a spout of venom from his mouth. It hit Thor a second before he crashed right through the body of the snake, ripping open the slithering body and tearing away the life from the beast. Blood burst out in waves and turned the sea a sickly red. The body of the serpent collapsed into the ocean.
Thor was covered in blood, and for a moment wondered why the blood was burning his skin. With a sickening feeling in his gut, he remembered.
A groan escaped his lips, and he flew towards land. He could feel the serpent's venom eating away at every cell in his body, devouring every inch of him. It would leave nothing left. In minutes he would be dead. Thor almost couldn't believe - that he, son of Odin, would not die by sword but by the venom of a savage beast. He dropped onto the shore with shame.
A familiar cry rang vociferously out across the battlefield. Thor looked up at the sound and felt a bitter ache in his chest. There, upon cliff's where the girl was strung up to watch the universe's death, Heimdall was falling - dead. His killer rose with a wicked grin.
Loki.
This chapter was different from other chapters, as there was not really any Loki or Auz in it. But I promise you that tomorrow will not disappoint (hopefully!).
Comment your thoughts below and tell me what you think of the chapter and what you think will happen at the end!