Urban Legends

by Kanius

"It's coming. It's here." Said the female Revenant. A man with no memories and a Shogi woman meet again. Thieves and Revenants cross paths. Fates intertwine when dark entities manipulate and tweak the timeline. Mysteries of the dark entities will be unraveled. [A Persona 5 and Code Vein crossover with Kakegurui and Nioh elements. A sequel to Ford1114's Persona Vein.]

21. A Fatalistic Love, Kriemhild's Madness

Chapter XXI

A Fatalistic Love; Kriemhild's Madness (致命的な愛; クリームヒルドの狂気)

xxxxx

Dimension: Wulf-Edda/Midgard/Hindarfjall/Skatalundr

As they rode up on the mountain, Sigurd and Grani gained enough traction toward Hindarfjall. When they arrived at the sight of a glowing light far away, Sigurd discerned the burning light. He sensed the heat burning in the air and saw it as a sign they were getting closer.

Upon arriving, they were far away from the wavering wall of burning flames that obstructed them from passing. These wall of flames were called the vafrlogi by the local town people. Behind the flames was the Skatalundr castle. Grani neighed loudly and distanced himself, terrified of the raging inferno. Sigurd calmed his steed down and moved him away.

The warrior turned and met the burning wave of flames. There was enough trepidation in his body as he initially felt unsure if he was up to this task. Then, he recalled what the bird told him. Once Fáfnir's blood fell on him, Sigurd gained abilities beyond a normal man. She even hinted that he could test his body against the flames.

Sigurd heard the stories that many men perished trying to climb the mountain. Others simply gave up. The fact, Sigurd made it this far meant the bird's word could possibly be true.

As he slowly put his hand through the flames, Sigurd closed his eyes.

Nothing.

No pain.

He pulled his arm away. The flames didn't burn his arm.

"The bird was right. I am immune to the flames thanks to the dragon's blood," Sigurd was taken aback by this revelation. With his confidence restored, the warrior climbed the Castle of Searing Flamme. The more he climbed, the more amazed he was to know he was invulnerable to the flames.

After a long climb up, Sigurd entered the window and scanned the quarters. He veered to his left and spotted a bed. Lying motionless on the bed was Brynhildr still covered in chainmail armor. There was a thin layer of mystic light that enshrouded the sleeping maiden.

"Is that the maiden the town folk and the bird referred to? So, the rumors were true!" Sigurd was astonished. He casually walked near the bed and gazed over the sleeping maiden. Based on first impression, she appeared more peaceful and less furious than what Sigurd kept hearing about.

When he approached closer, flames burst from the mystic barrier surrounding Brynhildr. He quickly withdrew from the fire until he remembered his invulnerability to fire. He walked passed the flames.

Sigurd stood next to Brynhildr's bedside. When eyeing her, she noted how uncharacteristically less lady-like Brynhildr appeared. He assumed she'd have a beauty that matched the burning and passionate flames. However, he couldn't notice but find her sleeping face to be appealing.

"Can thou hear me, sleeping maiden? I hast climbed the treacherous mountain and survived the flames. I came to confirm if the stories were true. I am grateful," Sigurd genuinely said as he placed a hand on hers. "I hast become a wandering traveler. It is just me and my steed. I hast yet to find someone to talk to."

There was no response from the still sleeping maiden.

"Thou can not hear me? Then, will a kiss wake thee?" The warrior leaned over and checked the chainmail. "No, perhaps this is keeping thou subdued." With that, he took out Gram and cut the maiden's chainmail armor.

With that, Sigurd took the opportunity to lean down for a kiss.

Until, Brynhildr's shot widen open and she awoke from her long slumber.

Her reaction to Sigurd leaning for a kiss ended with her fist in the warrior's face. This was an instinctive move meant for Odin, who was the last person she saw. However, it didn't matter who awoke her, that unfortunate soul was going to meet her unbridled wrath.

For Sigurd, he came at the wrong place and time.

The next thing Sigurd knew, he saw Brynhildr charged from out of her bed and tackle Sigurd down. She quickly pinned him down and seized his throat. Sigurd felt his windpipe about to be crushed by the enraged woman.

"FUKKA BASTARD! WHERE IS THE FUKKA OLD MAN?! WHERE IS ODIN?!" She screamed and slammed the back of Sigurd's head into the ground.

Feeling his head being cracked against the stone floor, Sigurd gritted and yelled. Brynhilldr didn't give him any time to recover and punched him.

"WHERE IS HE?! SHOW ME WHERE THAT OLD BIKKJE IS?!"

"Maiden, please…!"

Upon hearing the man just call her a 'maiden', Brynhidr clenched her teeth hard. Her face then contorted with anger. She choked him hard. Sigurd pushed his hands against her face. She quickly bit one of his fingers hard, forcing him to let go. Sigurd then tried kicking Brynhildr off him.

"THOU DARE CALL ME A FUKKA MAIDEN! SAY IT AGAIN AND I WILL BREAK THY NECK!"

Sigurd couldn't believe that the maiden he awoke turned out to be an unstable psychopath with a penchant for Odin's blood. The stories he had heard said the flames represented the maiden's anger. Those rumors turned out to be true.

Glancing over to Gram, he reached for the weapon. Brynhildr saw this and batted the weapon away. As a sadistic grin smeared on her face, the Valkyrie had an idea. She grabbed Gram. When Sigurd got up to stop her, Brynhildr pointed and angled the sword near his face.

"See here! Stop! I am not thy enemy!"

"Then, who sent thy here to rape me?!"

"No one! I came on my own accord! I thought a kiss wouldst awaken a sleeping maiden! I also heard the tales of…!"

Brynhildr snarled and shoved the pointed end near his facial skin. "Tales? What tales?"

"The local people. They said some maiden hast been asleep in this burning castle for a long time. Also a bird told me."

"A bird?"

"That is correct and the local townspeople spoke about thee through my travels."

"How long was I asleep for?"

Sigurd nervously shrugged. "I-I hast no clue." He rubbed his neck where she had her hands on. "Thou almost killed me."

"Of course. No one tries and kisses me, except Sigrún!"

"Who is Sigrún if I may…?"

"That is none of thy business! Dost thou wish to die by thy own blade?!" Brynhildr prepared to shove Gram through Sigurd's head.

"If thou must, but hear me out first… please," Sigurd pleaded as he put his hand over Gram. "I am not thy enemy. I am a wanderer who lost a home. I hast traveled far. I overheard hearsay about thee and a burning castle."

"I hast been asleep inside a burning castle?"

"Take a look outside if thou dost not believe me."

Brynhildr looked out the window and was baffled by the wall of flames surrounding the castle. She couldn't believe it, but Sigurd was right. She wondered if the flames were Odin's doing, preventing any mere mortal from breaching through the burning wall of flames.

Brynhildr faced Sigurd and watched him beckon for Gram. Cautious, Brynhildr slowly put the sword back in his hand. She quickly jerked away and growled.

"Listen, I know thou probably dost not trust me."

"Why shouldst I? The last person who put me here was that fukka old man Odin."

"Odin? The Allfather?"

Brynhildr nodded. "Yes, the bastard that exiled me here. Granted, I went against his word, but I never liked taking his orders. He and I hast been at each other's throats."

Sigurd sheathed his sword. "Well, I am clearly not the Allfather. So, there is no reason to attack me. I am sorry I awoke thee." He started toward the window. "But know thou will wait a longer time for another to climb this burning mountain."

"A mortal like thou is immune to the flames?"

"Yes, it appears so after I slayed a dragon and the beast's blood covered me."

"Thou slayed a dragon?"

Sigurd paused and nodded.

"What is thy name?"

"Sigurd. Sigurd of the former Völsung clan."

"Sigurd? That sounds similar to Sigrún."

"Was he someone special to thee?"

"She was my closest friend," Brynhildr corrected him.

"Oh, I hadst no idea thou kissed another woman."

"She was a Valkyrie just like me. Well, I used to be a Valkyrie until that bikkje Odin took my powers and turned me mortal."

"I am sorry to hear that."

Brynhildr scoffed. "If thou wish to leave me, then go." She sat down on her bed. "Maybe I will find a way to force thyself to fall asleep for another long slumber."

Sigurd realized he could leave, but after finding out she's been turned mortal, she was vulnerable. However, after witnessing her aggressive nature, he debated whether to risk taking her with him on his journey. And this was his first interaction with another person that wasn't a passing conversation with local town folk.

"I am willing to forgive thee."

Looking perturbed, Brynhildr blinked. "Huh?"

"I can forgive thou for nearly killing me."

"What art thou getting at?"

"I am still on a journey to find a good place to call home. Perhaps thou would like to join me? As a traveling companion?"

Brynhildr turned her back to him.

"So be it. This is where we part ways."

Scowling under her breath, Brynhildr turned around. "Hold on!"

Sigurd stopped next to the window and turned around to meet her resolute gaze.

"Thou truly slayed a dragon on thy own?"

"Yes, all on my own. With these swords, I slayed that beast Fáfnir," Sigurd proudly smiled.

Hearing this, Brynhildr began formulating an idea in her mind. She became thoroughly impressed as Midgardian man not only slayed a dragon, but is immune to flames. These are feats she thought only gods like herself could be capable of. Slaying a dragon was considered a norm for Asgardians. She thought if Sigurd could possibly find a means to restore her powers. She also saw Sigurd as a means to help her get revenge on Odin. If she trains with this dragon slayer, she could enhance her strength and work off her fighting rust.

"Wait, Sigurd."

"What is it?"

"It appears I cannot leave. That old fukka bastard placed a binding spell that seals me here. Damn, if that was not the case, I wouldst be free from this Hel!"

Hearing this, Sigurd responded. "While I may not know a spell, but there may be a way."

"Like?"

"Brynhildr, can thou wait here a little longer?"

"So, thou art going to leave me."

"I intend to return."

Brynhildr furrowed her brows and scoffed. "Well, what I cannot dost anything in my state. If thou hast a solution, then go and find it."

"Before I go," Sigurd then took out Andvaranut and put in in Brynhildr's hand.

"A ring?"

"Something to remember me by and to remind thou I will return."

"That is utterly idiotic," Brynhildr snorted with annoyance.

Sigurd climbed out the window. "I vow to return, Brynhildr! And I will get thou out of here!"

"As thou sayeth," Brynhildr shrugged as she examined the ring. When he left, she lied on her bed and meticulously gazed at the ring. "Such an idiotic but interesting man thou art, Sigurd."

With that, Sigurd climbed down the flaming mountain and mounted Grani. They rode off as they searched far and wide for a mystical countermeasure to remove the barrier spell.

xxxxx

Sigurd searched far and wide across the country for powerful magic that can nullify barriers. Along his journey, he stopped by local shops for counter magic. However, shops had any available and others turned him away warning him to avoid meddling with witchcraft.

However, one innkeeper informed Sigurd to see Gunnar and Gudrun at the Castle of Nibelung. Rumor has it the family there have expertise in magical arts and could provide Sigurd insight on nullifying barriers.

xxxxx

Midgard/Castle of Nibelung

After a couple days of travel, Sigurd and Grani arrived at their destination. He noticed a horse stable. He asked the stable master if he could hold Grani for him. When the stable master informed him the stable was reserved for the royal family, he queried if Gunnar and Gudrun were available.

"Thou wish to request an audience with the King Gunnar?" The stable master, a short and rotund man garbed in dull gray and olive green clothing, walked a horse into a stable. "The king is busy to listen to wanderers like thyself. Thou might want to leave."

Sigurd pleaded. "I need to inquire if he knows sorcery."

"What foolishness. The king dost not know magic!" The rotund man arrogantly laughed.

"But, an innkeeper informed me…"

"What thou heard is nothing but hearsay from the commoners. Now, unless thou wish to sell thy horse, then leave."

Sigurd frowned. "I dost not wish to sell Grani! Thou must see thy king!"

"What is the commotion here?" A man with a thick accent chimed in, startling the stable master.

"Oh! Thy highness, this wanderer just came and started causing problems! He wishes to leave his horse in thy stable!"

Sigurd pivoted and faced King Gunnar, a sandy blonde-haired man with a fair complexion with signs of red around his neck and cheek lines. He stood 5'8 feet tall. His hair was fairly long and neck length. He wore dark green armor, yellow clothing underneath, and armored boots. He looked less like a traditional king and more like a knight. His purple eyes were his most distinguishing features, which Sigurd noticed.

"Thy highness. Yes, I am a wanderer who hath travelled far," Sigurd bowed. "My apologies, but I wish to request an audience with thee."

"With me? Whatever for, wanderer?" Gunnar asked in a lofty tone.

"I heard thou know magic. Perhaps spells that nullify barriers?"

"Thou still on that nonsense, boy?" The stable master scoffed, prompting King Gunnar to beckon him with a hand.

"Leave us."

"As thou wish, thy highness." With that, the stable master left them.

"What is thy name, wanderer?" The young king queried, his purple eyes meticulously gazing over the warrior.

"I am Sigurd. As I said, I am a wanderer and recently faced a dilemma. There is a barrier that I hast trouble with that is preventing me from saving a maiden."

"Barrier? And a maiden thou say?"

"Yes, and I cannot free her until that barrier comes down."

Hearing this, King Gunnar mulled over Sigurd's story and considered helping him. However, he needed to extract more details that Sigurd was leaving out.

"Where is this maiden being held captive?"

"Hast thou heard of Skatalundr on Mount Hindarfjall?"

"The flaming castle?"

"Yes."

"So, there is a maiden there?"

"Yes, and I was able to meet her."

King Gunnar rubbed his chin. "And how were thou able to pass those flames? I heard anyone who tried to climb those fiery walls perished in the flames."

"I am immune to flames, thy highness."

"Was this due to some magic?"

"No, the blood of a dragon."

"Interesting. Sigurd, thy story intrigues me. Come. Follow me," King Gunnar invited Sigurd to his palace. He then pointed to the stable master. "He is an honored guest. Please ensure his horse is well taken care of."

"Oh, yes of course, thy highness!" The stable master approached Grani, who snorted and neighed wildly.

"Grani, behave thyself while I am away," Sigurd instructed his steed. He followed King Gunnar passed the front gates of his castle.

The Castle of Nibelung looked like any medieval castle for its time. Its dark gray matched the color of the sky, which has been that way for the most part. Sigurd noticed several serfs working on their king's estate. Two guards garbed in knight gear greeted their king and granted him reentry along with Sigurd.

When they entered Gunnar's royal chamber, Sigurn scanned the royal decorum that covered the grimy and gray stone walls. He faced Gunnar's throne. It was a silver throne covered with royal purple and gold cloth draped over the armrests and seat.

Before speaking with King Gunnar, Sigurd noticed someone walking in. It was an alluring young woman.

"Oh. Nice of thou to join us, dearest Gudrun," Gunnar addressed the woman's presence.

"This is…?" Sigurd asked as Gunnar answered immediately.

"This is my sister Gudrun."

Sigurd faced Gudrun. She had a fair complexion like her brother but lacked the red he had on his neck and face. She had long back length sandy blonde hair and purple eyes much like her brother. Her choice clothing was a purple and yellow gown. A silver neck collar adorned her neckline. She wore silver bracelets. She had on black hair bindings and black lipgloss. Standing opposite from her brother, she was a few inches shorter than Gunnar, standing roughly 5'6 feet tall.

"Good day to you." Gudrun gave a curtsy bow and spoke with a similar accent like her brother's.

"Yes, of course," Sigurd returned a bow. As he raised his head, he noticed Gudrun had a distant look on her face. And her manner of speech was slightly off. The pronounced use of 'you' threw him off.

"Sigurd?" Gunnar addressed him.

"Yes?"

"Thou wish to ask about spells to solve thy barrier situation?"

"Oh yes!" Sigurd said as he couldn't get his eyes off Gudrun.

"Dost my sister distract thee, Sigurd?"

"No, I am fine."

Gunnar sighed. "No, I understand my sister can act and speak a little… oddly, but I can tell her to leave us be?"

"No, it is fine."

The king shrugged his shoulders. "Well, as thou wish. Care to remind me of thy situation?"

When Sigurd explained about Brynhildr and the burning castle, Gunnar and Gudrun grew invested in his story. Gunnar seemed the most interested as he was already formulating an idea of how to bring down this barrier himself and take Brynhildr.

"Wow, a maiden trapped in a burning castle! Sounds like quite a dilemma! Isn't that right, Gunnar?" Gudrun turned to her brother.

"Indeed, and we wouldst be happy to help thee, Sigurd."

"Then, thou will show me some spells?"

"Yes, but it will be nightfall soon. Thou can rest in one of our quarters for the evening."

Gudrun nodded, smiling with her eyes closed. "Yes, you look very tired, Sigurd! A long night's rest is in order!"

"I can grant thee one demonstration, Sigurd," Gunnar said. With the snap of a finger, he produced a small purple flame in his palm.

Sigurd found himself entranced by Gunnar's spell demonstration. "Thou were not lying about using spells! Amazing!"

Gunnar chuckled. "My skills are modest at best. Now, Gudrun, her spells are superior to my own."

"Really?" Sigurd asked as he watched Gudrun produce a bigger green flame in her palm. "Incredible!"

Gudrun seemed half-enthused. "This is nothing for me. I can dispel barriers, too."

"Can thee?"

"Why yes. I am teaching my brother to dispel barriers."

Sigurd sighed happily. "I cannot thank thee two enough."

"We can discuss this more in the morning. Gudrun, wouldst thou be kind to show Sigurd to one of our guest quarters?" King Gunnar asked his sister.

"Of course! Right this way, Sigurd!" Gudrun offered as she walked Sigurd to his room.

Sitting down on his throne, Gunnar got all the entail he needed to know where to go and retrieve the maiden. However, he couldn't just go. The maiden was awakened by Sigurd.

A devious thought crossed the king's head. He considered using a transformation spell he learned from his sister. What if he went in disguise as Sigurd? He thought this long and hard.

xxxxx

Gudrun opened the door and invited Sigurd into his room. Sigurd's eyes fell on a bed covered in white and royal purple sheets. There was a window opposite from the bedside. The stone walls are as grimy as the rest of the palace. There was a thick piece of wood on the side wall. Gudrun cast fire to the wood to give light to the room.

"There. Your room is all set."

"Thank thee," Sigurd said with gratitude. He sat on the bed.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I will tell the guards here you are a guest."

"Yes, thank thee."

As Gudrun turned to leave, Sigurd stopped her.

"Wait."

"Yes, Sigurd?"

"I-I was wondering how thou and thy brother learned spells?"

"Oh, it was passed down by our family. Our mother was a powerful magic user."

Sigurd nodded. "I see now."

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"

"Thy manner of speech is very… unique. I never heard those few words thou said."

"Yes, my speech is quite unique. My brother doesn't like when I speak like that, because it makes me sound like a foreigner."

"Like a foreigner from a far off place?"

"Yes, something like that," Gudrun said, turning her back to Sigurd. "Well, I think you should rest now. We have much to discuss in the morning."

"Thou art right. I am almost dead tired," Sigurd yawned as he lay in bed.

"Good night to you, Sigurd," Gudrun then shut the door behind her. Lifting her right hand, a flicker of green flames came out of the palm. She watched Sigurd asleep through the flames. "Let's see if you'll remember anything about that maiden by morning."

The fire on the lit torch in Sigurd's room glowed with a translucent green light. The green light from the fire filled the entire room. Sigurd wasn't awake to see the fire's light shroud him. Sigurd didn't feel any burning pain. Instead, he felt lightheaded. He didn't realize it, but his memories of his meeting with Brynhildr were being transferred over to Gudrun's hand flame.

Gazing over her flame, Gudrun's soft, demure features became fiendish and sharp.

xxxxx

"Gunnar, I have his memories of that maiden," Gudrun presented him her flame.

"Good. Let me see."

As she approached his side, Gudrun turned the flame into a ball of light. She shoved the orb through his head. Gunnar felt a quick jolt as all of Sigurd's memories immersed with him.

"My spell will also make him forget about his meeting with that maiden Brynhildr."

"Yes, his memories are all here! I can see the maiden's image," Gunnar smirked cunningly as he stood. Then, he used his transform spell and turned himself into Sigurd, even right down to the warrior's scent. "With this, even his noble steed will see me as Sigurd. Good work, Gudrun."

Gudrun took a bow. "Anything to be of service to my brother… no, my king."

"Now, to see if thy magic can dispel this barrier, Gudrun."

With that, Gunnar, under the guise of Sigurd, headed off and took Grani with him toward Hindarfjall.

xxxxx

Midgard/Hindarfjall/Skatalundr

It had been a week since Sigurd left Brynhildr inside the castle. Try as she might, Brynhildr spent much of her time attempting to break the barrier containing her. Her efforts were in vain. She became a caged animal just as Odin wanted.

All she can think about was carrying out her desired revenge against the Allfather, but she needed Sigurd to help her. She kept the ring he gave her to remember him by.

"Where the fukka art thou?" Brynhildr hissed as she closed her fingers over the ring.

"Brynhildr! I hast returned!" Sigurd called out.

Hearing the wanderer's voice, Brynhildr looked out the window and saw Sigurd riding Grani in mid-air to avoid the flames.

"I hadst almost given up on thee, Sigurd!"

"Hold on. I came back with a spell to bring this barrier down." And with that, he invoked an advanced spell passed over by Gudrun. Purple light formed in his hands as he shattered the barrier with a beam.

Taken aback, Brynhildr tried to move forward. To her surprise, she was able to jump out the window and land on Grani's back. She sat behind Sigurd.

"Yes! At long last, I am free!" Brynhildr hollered loudly. "Fukka thee, old man!"

Gunnar in the back of his mind was baffled by this maiden's barbaric use of language.

"Well, where to, Sigurd?"

"Back to King Gunnar's palace. He and his sister taught me this spell. Now hang on, Brynhildr." Sigurd beckoned Grani back to the Castle of Nibelung.

"I still hast the ring."

"Ring?"

She showed him Andvaranaut on her right ring finger.

"Oh, yes. Good, hold onto it." He eyed the ring on her finger and looked away.

"Understand just because I hast this ring, it doth not mean we can marry. Thou will train me so I can get my strength back and that king will teach me spells. That way, my revenge against Odin will be realized."

"Yes, as thou sayeth…" However, Gunnar had other ideas in mind for the former Valkyrie.

xxxxx

Midgard/Castle of Nibelung

Upon returning to his castle, Sigurd returned with Brynhildr. After getting by his guards, Sigurd left Grani with the stable master. He introduced Brynhildr to the stable master.

"How dost art thou, young lady?" The stable master asked as Brynhildr sniffed him. "Hmm?"

"Oh, dost not mind her. She is probably very hungry. I better get her into the castle."

"Perhaps thou shouldst. Have a good evening," the stable master took Grani away to the stables.

Sigurd turned to Brynhildr. "Why thou art smelling him? Doth his scent bother thee?"

Brynhildr frowned and said nothing. She walked and followed Sigurd into the castle.

While escorting the Valkyrie through a hallway, Brynhildr meticulously surveyed her new surroundings. However, this grimy and dark atmosphere of the medieval castle brought back not so pleasant memories of her Midgard birthplace. She remembered living in a familiar setting growing up. She even recalled the damaged property she caused to her father's castle and her delinquent actions giving her father much grievances.

Brynhildr paused as she stared at Gunnar's throne. A frown adorned her face.

"What is wrong, Brynhildr?" Sigurd queried to the Blood Valkyrie.

"Looking at this throne brings me discomfort," Brynhildr scowled at the throne.

"Is it because it reminds thee of Allfather's throne?"

"Not just the fukka old man, but my father, the very same man who brought me into this world."

Sigurd turned and addressed Brynhildr. "Didst he wrong thee?"

"I brought him much grief. He relinquished me to Odin. Neither man could tame me. No man hast successfully calmed my wrathful spirit," Brynhildr pivoted over to Sigurd. "How will thou tame me?"

Sigurd wore a calm and collective smile. "Because unlike them, I hast patience."

"We shalt see." Brynhildr then paused again as her nose seemed to twitch.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, but I smell a stench that reeks of rot. I dost not know why. It was the same scent from that stable master."

"Perhaps a leftover meal someone neglected to finish. Fear not, they have swine that devour food left behind."

Brynhildr turned away and scoffed. "Where to now?"

"Well, King Gunnar sayeth he would leave thee some clothes to wear."

"Oh yes?"

As Sigurd walked Brynhildr to his sleeping quarters, he showed the Blood Valkyrie a white gown laying on his bed. Brynhildr eyed the garment and snarled.

"Thou not propose I wear this filth, Sigurd?!" Brynhildr turned, shooting an incensed glare at him.

Taken aback by the Valkyrie's fury, Sigurd backed away. "Calm down! It is all the king could borrow from his sister!"

"Sister?"

"Yes, sister indeed," Gudrun's voice interjected, cutting into their conversation. Her presence drew Sigurd and Brynhildr's attention. "Ah, so this is that Valkyrie you were referring to, Sigurd?" Wearing a casual smile, Gudrun walked up to Brynhildr. "I must say you look ordinary for a Valkyrie."

Scowling, Brynhildr jerked herself away from Gudrun.

"C'mon now. I mean you no harm," Gudrun smiled. "I'm Gudrun, King Gunnar's sister. It's a pleasure to have you here. What I mean by ordinary is you don't seem divine."

Before Brynhildr retort, Sigurd interjected. "Sorry, Gudrun, but she hast been through asleep in solitude in that castle. How about we grant her privacy to put on the new garments?"

Gudrun nodded. "But, of course." She turned and bowed. "Please excuse me and Sigurd, Brynhildr. We shall leave you to get dressed."

With that, Sigurd and Gudrun walked out leaving Brynhildr to disrobe and put on the latter's dress. Brynhildr faced the door being shut and furrowed her brows. She took a minute to discern the rotting smell she sensed earlier and the odd behavior Sigurd seemed to exude when he brought her into this castle. Sigurd seemed a little too familiar with a castle he had just discovered.

With a shrug, Brynhildr removed her chainmail clothing and put on Gudrun's dress. She walked over to a mirror and checked over the dress. She made a disgusted look on her face, conveying her real feelings over wearing a dress. It also brought back more painful memories of her childhood living in her father's castle. She ripped every dress the king's servants coerced her to wear. She wanted nothing to do with the dresses now.

And she was prepared to tear off Gudrun's dress.

Then, she stopped when she heard the door creak open. The Blood Valkyrie felt a cold shiver as she glanced over her right shoulder. She spotted Gudrun from the corner of her eye.

"Well, how about that? My dress does fit you. That's wonderful!" Gudrun said in a radiant tone.

Becoming irritated with Gudrun's tone, Brynhildr turned away and scowled. Undeterred, Gudrun approached Brynhildr.

"Now, now, there's no need to be shy. I think you look absolutely lovely in my dress."

"I dost not need thy praise."

The woman calmly whispered next to her. "Ohh, shh. I get it. You're too proud to consider yourself beautiful. Aren't you?"

"And why dost thou speak in this manner? It is nothing I hast heard of."

"Sigurd said the same thing. He asked if I was a foreigner, but I was born and raised on this land."

As Brynhildr turned away, Gudrun leaned over and grabbed the Valkyrie's arms. She was mesmerized by how firm and toned Brynhildr's arms were in comparison to her own.

"Wow, I'm quite impressed, maiden. Your arms are quite hard and certainly built for combat. Tell me how you got this buff, battle maiden. How unbecoming of you to be wearing my dress just so my brother can have his way with you…!" Before she can finish, Brynhildr whipped around and fiercely roared at her.

"THOU HAST THE FUKKA NERVE TO INSULT ME?! I WILL SHOW THEE!" Brynhildr savagely roared, exhibiting less than lady-like qualities much to Gudrun's surprise.

As Brynhildr lunged for Gudrun ready to strangle her, Sigurd intervened and seized her from behind. With a smile, Gudrun watched Gunnar, still under his Sigurd disguise, pulling Brynhildr away.

"UNHAND ME! I SHALT KILL THIS FUKKA BIKKJE FOR DISRESPECTING ME!" The Blood Valkyrie furiously bellowed while flailing her arms and kicking her feet into the air.

"Thou dost not want to kill Gudrun, Brynhildr! Easy now! We shalt go to the royal quarters!"

While 'Sigurd' carried off Brynhildr, Gudrun walked out of the room with a composed smile on her face. When that calm smirk became a conniving one, Brynhildr noted this and grew suspicious. Between the revolting stench her nose has been picking up, Sigurd's odd behavior, Gudrun's very nature being completely off, and the absence of King Gunnar, Brynhildr suspected that something about this environment that didn't sit right with her.

xxxxx

"Excuse me, but the king wishes to see thee alone," Sigurd said, leaving Brynhildr alone in the royal chamber. He walked away and headed up a stairway. As he used his change magic, he turned back to King Gunnar and returned to meet with Brynhildr.

Brynhildr scanned Gunnar. "Thou must be…"

"King Gunnar, I am happy to meet thee."

"Thou sister is a troublesome bikkje. If she crossed me again, I shalt kill her."

"Well… let us not get physical and violent. That is unbecoming of a maiden as beautiful as thee."

Hearing this, Brynhildr savagely growled, which shook him.

"Or, perhaps thou prefer to be called 'mighty and powerful'?

"I was once Asgard's mightiest Valkyrie until that fukka old man took my power and turned me mortal. He then cast me here to be saved by a Midgardian man."

"Sigurd, I presume?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

"Thou shouldst not speak poorly of such a valiant man."

Brynhildr growled irritably. "Like I give a fukka."

"And that is ruffian talk. We will not have that here…" To which, Brynhildr snarled again, causing Gunnar to flinch. "Or, I shalt be silent and let thee speak?"

"I know Sigurd came here to learn magic. I wish to learn magic from thee, so I may find a spell that restores my power and then I can take my vengeance on Odin!" Brynhildr announced her ultimate plan as clear as day.

Having heard Brynhildr's intentions, Gunnar smiled. "Well then. Thou came to the right person and place. After all, Sigurd learned how to dispel that barrier that kept thee inside that castle. I may have magic to not only restore thy power, but to destroy Odin."

"Thou can pass that knowledge to me?"

"Surely I can, Brynhildr. Let us start thy training."

xxxxx

For the past few days, Gunnar taught Brynhildr some basic magic attacks. Brynhildr learned a few attack, defense, and counter magic to compensate for the loss of her divine powers. Despite the setbacks, the Blood Valkyrie learned to better utilize the spells and this helped to restore some of her lost powers.

In the midst of their magic duel, Brynhildr conjured a barrier to stop Gunnar's light beam. When Gunnar tossed a fiery blast, Brynhildr rolled to the side, conjured a knife in her hand, and ran up to put the blade to the king's throat. Two guards witnessed this and moved in to stop her, but Gunnar beckoned them off.

"It is fine. This is just a practice duel," Gunnar grunted as he felt Brynhidr's knife pressed against his throat. "That will be all for today, Brynhildr. Well done."

Withdrawing her knife, Brynhildr chuckled. "If thou hadst been the fukka old man, I wouldst hast cut thy throat open."

"Surely thou wouldst hast," the king sat down on his throne. "Thou can leave now and rest in thy quarters."

Brynhildr walked away and headed for her room. As she left the royal chamber, Gunnar rubbed his throat.

"She can be quite rough."

xxxxx

Having spent a couple of days in the Castle of Nibelung, Brynhildr reminisced bad memories of her previous castle life. The hallways were as dark and grimy like her father's old castle. It has been ages since her father handed her off to Odin. By now, her father, King Buðli, has long since passed, leaving Brynhildr as the one who could've taken her father's throne, but those days were behind her. Brynhildr sought only one throne: Odin's.

"Only a matter of time. This foolish king and Sigurd are only furthering my goal. Sooner than later, I shalt not require their help anymore," the Blood Valkyrie chuckled as she conjured a red ball of magical properties. "No, perhaps I can allow Sigurd to accompany me. I will not be able to kill the old man on my own." Then, the warrior's name reminded her. "Speaking of, where hast Sigurd been? The last I saw him, he brought me to see the king. What hast thee been doing, Sigurd?"

With that, Brynhildr scored the halls in search of Sigurd. When she headed for Gunnar's quarters, she paused when she heard a loud moaning from the opposite way. She veered away from the king's doors as her keen ears heard moaning exuding sensual pleasure.

"That sounds just like…" Her nose then picked up the scent of two people. "No, no!" She stormed the hall and headed straight for the doors leading into Gudrun's quarters. She crashed and broke down the doors, catching two individuals in the middle of sexual intercourse.

The Blood Valkyrie's eyes widened when she caught Gudrun mounted on top of Sigurd. Both were fully nude. Sigurd's hardened penis was inside Gudrun's vagina. Sigurd had ceased thrusting himself inside Gudrun. They turned and faced Brynhildr, whose face displayed anger and horror. Sigurd had a look of pained discontent. On the other hand, Gudrun appeared shameless in her actions and smiled.

"Wh-WHAT THE HEL IS THIS?! SIGURD, WHAT ART THOU DOING WITH THIS HORA?!"

"Brynhildr, it is not what thou think! She hast been forcing herself onto me and raping me!"

"And thou can not fight back?!"

"She hast subdued me with magic! I couldst not move my body for a moment!"

Gritting her teeth, Brynhildr quickly shot an intense glare toward Gudrun, who maintained her smile. Gudrun gave an incessant laugh.

"THOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY, FUKKA BIKKJE?! GET OFF HIM!"

Seemingly ignoring Brynhildr's demand, Gudrun grabbed Sigurd's cheeks and slapped him.

"Oh, but I can't. He's been a pleasure to toy with! Sigurd has given me all the pleasure I can ask for!"

Clenching her fists, Brynhildr rushed Gudrun and grabbed her. Brynhildr pushed Gudrun off the bed and pinned her down, readily putting her knife to the rapist's throat.

"I WILL FUKKA KILL THEE!"

Giving a conniving smirk, Gudrun licked the knife and taunted Brynhildr. "Go ahead. Cut my throat and spill my blood all over the floor. Just know my brother will find this out and you'll be executed."

"THOU HAST PUSHED ME TOO FAR!"

Just then, Gunnar heard the savage roars of Brynhildr from his sister's quarters and beckoned two guards to follow him. Once they arrived, they caught Brynhildr with a knife to Gudrun's throat.

"Oh, look who's here…" Gudrun giggled in a mocking singing tone.

"Gudrun?! Brynhildr?! Guards, seize Brynhildr!" Gunnar demanded as the guards hurried over to grab the Blood Valkyrie, but Brynhildr slashed her knife around to ward off the guards. "Brynhildr, what is the meaning of this barbaric act?!"

"Thy sister was raping Sigurd! I know, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Upon hearing Brynhildr's testimony, Gunnar turned to Gudrun on the floor and veered over to Sigurd covering himself.

"Thou were having intercourse with my sister, Sigurd?!"

"Thy sister forced herself in here and violated me using her magic!"

Gudrun got off the floor still shamelessly nude. "No, I came here to check on him, but then Sigurd forced himself onto me and raped me! I even cried for help!"

Brynhildr scowled. "THOU ART LYING!" She lunged for Gudrun, but Gunnar seized the Blood Valkyrie and dragged her out while kicking and screaming. "SHE RAPED HIM LIKE THE HORA SHE IS!"

"Gudrun, leave the room now!" Gunnar ordered his sister out. He pointed to one guard. "Thou escort Gudrun away!" He then motioned for the other guard to stay with Sigurd. "After I am done with her, I will return to further question thee, Sigurd!"

As Gunnar took Brynhildr to his quarters, he closed the doors behind them. He turned around and saw Brynhildr throwing her knife at a mirror.

"Thy sister is a fukka hora who needs to be disciplined!"

Gunnar sighed. "Yes, well, if anyone else needs to be disciplined, it is thee, Brynhildr."

"Me? Surely thou art not comparing me to that hora! I am a proud Valkyrie!"

"Were a proud Valkyrie! Thou art not anymore! Thou art much as a hora as my sister. No, thou art much lower. Thou art a savage beast."

Brynhildr growled. "Compare me to a beast? Fine, but I am no hora."

Just as she said that, Gunnar smirked. "No, but thou shalt be my hora." With that, he conjured a spell that quickly paralyzed Brynhildr, causing her to freeze in place.

"What is this…?! Release me now!"

Gunnar sighed. "I can not do that, Brynhildr. I can not discipline my sister, because she can not help herself. I hast tried everything to stop her. But, thou interest me more, Brynhildr. Now that thou hast told me of thy upbringing, I can use thy power." He walked over and grabbed Brynhildr's cheeks. He then grabbed her jaw and gave a conniving smirk. "The moment thou entered my palace, thou hast become my property." He leaned over and kissed Brynhildr's lips.

Brynhildr tried to bite Gunnar, but the magic binding her sealed her mouth shut. She was unable to speak, finding herself at Gunnar's merciless kissing and groping. Continuing to lock lips with the Blood Valkyrie, Gunnar grabbed Brynhildr's left breast and tore off a section of the dress, exposing her breast. Brynhildr couldn't believe what was happening. The once strong warrior was reduced to being a king's personal toy. Had he not put a paralysis spell on her, Brynhildr would've easily butchered this rapist king.

As Gunnar shoved Brynhildr on his bed, he mounted the Blood Valkyrie and sucked on her exposed breast. She screamed furiously inside her mind as the man had his way with her. As if Gunnar didn't sink any lower, he slowly shoved his hand toward Brynhildr's crotch and grabbed it. Brynhildr could feel the king fingering inside her as she started spilling vaginal juices all over his bedsheets.

At that moment, the king noticed the ring on Brynhildr's finger. It was the very same Andvaranaut, which Sigurd gave her.

"Yes, that ring thou mentioned. How about I hold onto it for thee? Since slaves art not meant to wear jewelry!" As Gunnar reached for the ring, Andvaranaut gave off a blinding glow that stunned him.

The light from Andvaranaut broke the paralysis spell placed over Brynhildr. When this happened, an unbridled fury exploded within Brynhildr. She summoned a counterspell that knocked Gunnar off her. Brynhildr slowly regained her bearings and covered her exposed breast. The Blood Valkyrie momentarily stared at Andvaranaut on her finger, realizing this ring has the power to break spells, which she hadn't realized it could do. She mulled over why she couldn't have used it to break free from her castle imprisonment, but that was neither here nor there.

Setting her sights on the fallen king, Brynhildr then conjured a red magic ball and hit Gunnar with it, sending him crashing against a wall. She conjured a small sword and hit Gunnar's left shoulder, wounding the king. Brynhildr lunged at and pinned her foot against the sword, shoving it through his shoulder.

"I SHALT KILL THEE FOR VIOLATING ME, GUNNAR!" She roared in his voice.

"Pl-Please do not kill me! If I die, my kingdom, my people, my sister… all will fall into ruin!"

A furious scowl adorned Brynhildr's face. "Thou shouldst hast thought that before violating me, Gunnar!" With that, she produced a knife. "And thou shouldst hast never taught me magic because now I can use this to kill thee with before I confront Odin."

"Brynhildr, I… I didst not mean to… I was merely testing thee…"

"Test me?! Violating me was a test?! Surely thou art jestering. Gunnar!"

"Spare me, please…"

Gritting her teeth, Brynhildr quickly slashed Gunnar's throat with her knife, causing blood to spill out and soak the floor mat. Gunnar grabbed his bleeding throat and gagged.

"No...Now thou hast done it… Brynhildr…"

Confused by what he meant, Brynhildr noticed the entire room darken. The rotten stench she smelled before returned, but the stench was far more nauseating and covered the air more. Brynhildr covered her nose and mouth as the revolting smell got the best of her. She ran over to the window and saw the entire kingdom atmosphere change before her eyes. Whatever spell had been placed over the kingdom seemed to become undone, unveiling the horrid truth.

That horrid truth was this kingdom was already dead before Sigurd's arrival. The entire townsfolk outside the kingdom transformed into ghastly and horrific-looking walking and rotted corpses. Brynhildr had seen such entities. They were reanimated corpses the Asgardians called Proto-Draugar.

"No, it cannot be…" Brynhildr paled in shock. "That wouldst explain the rotten stench when I came here."

"Heheh, now thou hast learned the truth…" Gunnar chortled and coughed blood. "Yes, this kingdom was long dead before thy arrival; The people here all died of a plague that killed all but myself and Gudrun… thou and Sigurd will not escape here alive..." He gave a low chuckle as Brynhildr stormed out of the room.

As she left, Gunnar himself vanished into thin air.

Upon arriving outside Sigurd's room, she saw the warrior fully clothed and fighting the guard with Gram. She smelled the same horrid stench from the guard, who became a Proto-Draugr. The walking corpse let out a ghoulish moan and swung down his sword. Sigurd countered with Gram.

"Sigurd, we must leave now!" Brynhildr called out.

"Yes, I know, but what trickery is this?!"

"We were fooled! This place was already dead before we came here!"

"Then, the king must hast used his magic to hide this insidious truth from our eyes!" Sigurd quickly disarmed the Proto-Draugr and chopped its head off.

Brynhildr quickly seized Sigurd's hand. "Come! We must leave now!"

As the two ran down the hall, another Proto-Draugr came out of a corner and swung its sword at them. Brynhildr quickly produced a small sword to stop the reanimated corpse's attack. She then fired a light beam through the Proto-Draugr's torso, tearing it into two. After wiping out the Proto-Draugr and taking its broadsword, Brynhildr grabbed Sigurd and ran down the stairway into Gunnar's royal chamber. There they spotted the king's loyal subjects. All of them were reanimated corpses. The chamber was filled with the nauseating scent of rotted flesh, causing Brynhildr's strong smell to kick into overdrive. She collapsed and vomited on the floor. This prompted Sigurd to protect Brynhildr and slash at the group of Proto-Draugar.

"Brynhildr, can thou stand?!" Sigurd asked while swiping at and beheading several Proto-Draugar.

"I...I can now…" Brynhildr covered her nose and mouth. "The horrific smell from these creatures is too much to bear!"

Looking ahead, Sigurd pointed toward the hallway. "There! That is the way out into the stables!" He grabbed Brynhildr's hand and rushed toward their only way out.

On the way, they were sidetracked by the next most disgusting thing: a Proto-Draugr swine. Its skin, once brown, was puke green and yellow. Its eyes were white like egg shells and devoid of the life they once had. When it opened its mouth, maggots and insects spilled out onto the floor. Brynhildr and Sigurd kicked away at the creepy crawlers. The swine let out a ghoulish screech and lunged for Sigurd. Brynhildr conjured a barrier that stopped the swine from attacking them. Brynhildr and Sigurd quickly headed out toward the stables.

Upon arriving, they saw the stable master, now revealed as a Proto-Draugr. His complexion was sickly gray and half his face exposing his skull. Worms crawled inside the skull and poked out. The stable master gave a ghoulish moan and slowly walked toward the two. Sigurd quickly cut him down with Gram.

"These art not like the Draugar I hast seen before," Brynhildr noted the different characteristics these particular reanimated corpses gave off. "These art slow moving and dost not roar much. The ones we Asgardians faced were fast and far more dangerous."

"Well, I am glad we art not facing those types. Now, where art thou, Grani?!" He whistled for his steed, who quickly came out of his stable. "Ah, there! Let us leave, Brynhildr!"

With that, Sigurd and Brynhildr hopped on Grani. As they departed, an army of the Proto-Draugar emerged in unison. They amassed like the infected plague they had been reduced to. The army consisted of townsfolk, serfs, knights, guards, and animals. Their ghoulish moans filled the air with dread and trepidation.

"Let us leave now, Grani," Sigurd muttered as Grani flew them off from the kingdom.

Casting one look at the Proto-Draugar-filled kingdom, Brynhildr looked away shuddering with disgust.

"Brynhildr, what happened? How didst thou expose this?"

"Gunnar. I killed Gunnar."

"Thou… what?!"

The Blood Valkyrie frowned. "It is as I said, I ended Gunnar's life and his death…"

"Everything we saw was all an illusion?"

Brynhildr nodded. "Yes, an illusion spell was put into place. He mentioned he and the hora art the only ones not affected."

Upon hearing this, Sigurd bit his bottom lip. "Then, I wonder about Gudrun now."

xxxxx

Meanwhile, Gudrun, fully dressed in her gown, scoured past all of the Proto-Draugar. Not one of the reanimated corpses attempted to attack her. In fact, a few followed her. Naturally, anyone would be utterly terrified in the presence of these undead creatures.

But, not Gudrun.

As she opened a door leading into the dungeons, Gudrun walked down a stairway into a barely lit dungeon. Once there, she saw Gunnar holding his slit throat and bleeding.

"Gudrun… they hast escaped…" He croaked and spilled blood from his mouth.

"And no surprise. Even an illusion version of you is useless, Gunnar," Gudrun evilly smirked as she tapped Gunnar's shoulder and made him vanish into thin air. Her eyes scanned the prison cell where 'Gunnar' once stood. She spotted the real Gunnar huddled in a corner and shivering fearfully. He was shown to be pale and malnourished from lack of sunlight and food.

When Gudrun opened the prison door, Gunnar screamed fearfully. His screams didn't deter Gudrun. Instead, she incessantly giggled at her brother's terrified reaction to her. When she reached behind her. Gudrun took out a long whip, which suddenly silenced Gunnar.

"Now, brother. You screaming like that is too adorable," Gudrun chortled while slapping the whip on the floor.

"Thou hast deceived everyone who hast come here into thinking I am still king and all is well! But, that is far from the truth!"

Hearing this, Gudrun nodded and tapped her cheek. "Hmm, yes that's true. Anyone who has entered our property thinks you're still the king, but little did they know it was an illusion. In fact, as you already know, this whole kingdom was placed under my Illusion's Touch."

Hearing this, Gunnar growled. "THOU ART NOT MY SISTER! THOU ART A MONSTER! EVER SINCE THOU CAME INTO CONTACT WITH…!" Before he can finish, Gudrun cut him off with a lash from her whip.

The whip made contact with Gunnar's chest. He rolled on the ground writhing in pain. When he rolled over, he exposed his back. His back showed numerous scars from the being whipped by his sister.

"Now, let's not point any fingers here, Gunnar. Unless you want another taste of Attila the Hun's whip that our dear father acquired?" She heard him painfully groan. "You brought this on yourself thinking I'd idly sit by and let you do whatever you please." Gudrun responded with a sadistic grin on her face. "Once I came into contact with it, I became enlightened." She watched as her brother crawled away. She put her foot on his back and gripped the whip with her hands. "You know what else I did after coming into contact with this dark entity? I tested its power and used it to infect everyone of your people and subjects with a terminal illness, taking the lives of everyone here, but you and me."

Hearing this, Gunnar shouted. "IT WAS THEE?!"

"Yes, and they all died as a result of this plague. But, I made sure to reanimate all your subjects and used my Illusion's Touch to make it seem like nothing happened. I concealed everything so nobody will notice. I even created a false illusion of you to occupy the throne in your place. As far others outside this kingdom are concerned, you are still the king of Nibelung."

Gritting his teeth, the man stared into the gleefully sadistic eyes of the creature. The creature that once was his sister.

"Have you ever wondered why my manner of speech seems different from you and the others? It's all thanks to the dark entity, my dialogue has altered to better suit my transformation once I've severed ties from this place."

"I will not permit thee to leave!" Gunnar shouted as he lunged for Gudrun, but she kicked his face and knocked him down.

"I have no need for a useless sack of shit like you, brother." Gudrun sadistically grinned. With great timing, she heard the ghoulish groans of the Proto-Draugar entering the dungeon. "Oh wonderful. Your subjects are here to see their king."

As he turned over on his side, Gunnar's face paled with fright as the Proto-Draugar, some of whom used to be his royal subjects, guards, and townsfolk, entered the dungeon. Their ghoulish moans filled the already dreary atmosphere with more dread. Gunnar's throat became dry as he was unable to properly speak but gave faint gasps.

"By the way, brother," Gudrun leaned over and whispered into his ear. "I could give a damn about our father's passing. He died a weak fool's death leaving a weaker fool for a successor to take his throne." She tilted her head and broadened her sadistic smile. "Oh, and I have absolutely no interest to inheriting the throne from you, brother. In fact, this kingdom is already dead."

"Thou bikkje…!" He spat on her dress.

"Now, that wasn't very nice, brother. Oh well, there's nothing left for me here." She held the back of Gunnar's head, grabbing a handful of his hair. "I have to thank Sigurd and Brynhildr. Thanks to their meddling, I finally have the chance to leave this corpse filled kingdom behind me. And thanks to your illusion, I made an interesting discovery. Want to know what it is? Hmmm?"

Shutting her off, Gunnar cursed behind clenched teeth.

"Brynhildr has a powerful ring that undid your illusion's paralysis spell. Now, I must have that ring. And that's good enough reason to leave this wretched place!" Gudrun declared her impending departure in a gleeful tone. "Well, brother, it's been fun, but this is where we part ways." She then ripped opened Gunnar's pants, revealing the man's penis and testicles. "Here's something to remember me by." She took out a knife.

"What art thou planning to do…?! What art thou…?! GUDRUN, STOP! STOP AT ONCE!" Gunnar screamed with horror as Gudrun shoved the knife into his crotch. She quickly carved the blade through his crotch and horrifically castrated his testicles off. What followed were the most ear piercing, blood-curdling screams enough to make the boldest of men wince and cry.

The ghoulish moans from the Proto-Draugar were drowned out by Gunnar's screams. Crying with tears, Gunnar stared fearfully at his sister. Gudrun knelt next to him seemingly unfazed by the wretched stench coming from his wound. Gudrun then cupped his mouth shut and placed a finger to her lips, telling him to 'hush'. Then, she pinned him against the wall and slit his throat with the knife. After that, she kicked him to the side and wiped the man's blood from her knife.

Watching Gunnar writhe in agony and twitch with blood spilling from his throat, she was seemingly not satisfied.

"No, no, this won't do." She then cast a spell and conjured maggots to appear on Gunnar's testicles and neck. "There. That'll do. Now eat up, my flesh eating pretties."

Smelling the fresh meat presented for them, the maggots proceeded to devour Gunnar's testicles and dug into his neck wound. Gunnar's dreadful screams once again filled the room until they ultimately ceased. The maggots that devoured the neck wound ate so much of it that Gunnar's own head fell off and hit the ground. Gunnar's mouth still twitched, giving inaudible movements as if he were still screaming in agony.

Turning around, Gudrun opened the door for the Proto-Draugar to enter.

"Ok, it's chowtime, sweeties!" Gudrun announced as the reanimated corpses slowly entered the prison cell.

The Proto-Draugar piled over the king's corpse and started tearing into the body. A few tore off his limbs and others dug their fingers into the corpse's flesh, ripping it open to spill Gunnar's entrails. The Proto-Draugar happily devoured their king like a full course meal. Then, a Proto-Draugr pig entered the cell and headed straight for Gunnar's maggot-filled head. The swine grotesquely crushed the king's head between its jaws as if it were a pumpkin. The swine then lapped up the maggots, the brain matter, the eyeballs, and skull pieces of the former king. They devoured their king until there was nothing left, but a few bones.

xxxxx

Upon arriving outside the castle, Gudrun raised both hands. In her right, she conjured her green flames. In her left, she summoned her brother's purple flames.

"Let it all burn," Gudrun smirked as she burned everything, including the reanimated corpses and the kingdom. As she left the kingdom and its subjects to burn, Gudrun placed her personal belongings in a satchel, including the whip and a grimoire.

The former princess of Nibelung set off to find the ones who managed to escape her illusion trap.

xxxxx

Having escaped a great distance from the castle, Grani landed Brynhildr and Sigurd in an area between a forest and an open plain. There was enough of a forested spot for Brynhildr and Sigurd to rest after enduring that horrific experience. Sigurd sat on a large stone and set Gram down. Brynhildr brought Grani over next to a pond, letting the horse drink.

"That truly happened, didst it not?" Sigurd queried to Brynhildr, wondering if they had been experiencing the same nightmare.

"It was real, Sigurd. Dost not even deny what thou saw was a dream. What we saw was real. What we saw before was an illusion created by Gunnar and his hora sister."

"How couldst I been a fool to fall for such deceit?"

Brynhildr scowled with irritation in her tone. "Thou dost not have senses as refined as mine. The moment I stepped into that castle, I sensed something was off. While Gunnar still managed to conceal much of the smell, I couldst pick up on the horrid stench."

"And thou didst not do anything?"

"I wanted to be confirmed and so I spent time investigating the castle," Brynhildr noted Sigurd smiling. "What? Thou find something funny?!" She snarled, furiously clenching her teeth at him.

Sigurd genuinely chortled. "I am happy we art still alive. That is why I am happy."

Brynhildr frowned. "Thou art annoying me, Sigurd."

"Sorry."

There was silence among the two. That momentarily silence was quelled by Grani's audible snorts. Grani trotted toward the nearest bush, leaving the two alone to converse.

"Listen," Sigurd got up as he approached Brynhildr, who hissed and jerked her hands away from him. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Didst something happen with thee and Gunnar?"

"No!"

As he discerned Brynhidr's perturbed look, Sigurd furrowed his brows. "He didst something to thee. Didst he not?"

"That is none of thy business!"

Sigurd knelt down in front of Brynhildr. "Thou can be honest with me. After all, thou saw what Gudrun didst with me. She raped me… which I admit is a scar I will sadly carry with me."

Hearing this from Sigurd, Brynhildr sighed. "Gunnar… he raped me. I dost not wish to tell anymore. But, I didst kill him for violating me!"

Clenching his fists, Sigurd scowled. "That bastard. No, thou didst right ending his life. I just wish I hadst the fortitude to stop Gunnar. I shouldst hast killed her."

Brynhildr have a mocking chuckle. "Thou can slay a dragon, but a mere woman? She didst not look like a threat to me. She probably seduced thee. After all, that hora is still a good-looking woman. A normal man wouldst been entranced by her beautiful looks…"

"Except she used a spell to put me to sleep and took advantage of me."

"It dost not matter now. It is over," the Blood Valkyrie said.

"Perhaps, but our wounds can be healed," Sigurd said as he patted Brynhildr's shoulder.

"How?"

"Dost thou trust me?"

Brynhildr mulled over the man's inquiry. Thinking long and hard, she responded well. "Yes. Thou art going to help me restore my power."

"So, thou can take thy revenge on the 'fukka old man', right?"

Brynhildr openly smiled. "Yes! Thou remembered!"

"How can I forget? I hath nothing else to lose now I am just a wanderer. I wouldst like to see Asgard for myself."

"Heheh, I knew I couldst count on thee strength, Sigurd, slayer of dragons."

"Well, I only killed one."

"One or a hundred. It dost not matter! Thy art no ordinary man! I trust in thy strength to help me overthrow that fukka old man!" Brynhildr propped herself down next to Sigurd. Staring at him closely, she smiled. "Thou art quite handsome, Sigurd…"

"And thou art…"

"What am I?"

Sigurd stammered. "Um…"

"Well?! Sayeth!"

"...thou hast a pretty face."

Upon hearing this, Brynhildr grumbled. "Is that all?"

"What else dost want me to say?!"

Brynhildr yelled in his face. "I dost not know! More than just 'pretty'!"

"Ok, thou art cute!"

"I am just fukka 'cute'?! Thou art a fukka idiot, Sigurd!"

This led to the two to bicker until tension ceased between them. Suddenly, Brynhildr and Sigurd realized they were attracted to each other's argumentative and heated spirits. The Blood Valkyrie leaned over and kissed Sigurd's lips. Taken aback by Brynhildr's surprise kiss, Sigurd initially didn't know how to react. This was the very same Valkyrie that nearly killed him and he just now had a heated argument with.

Pulling himself off her, Sigurd stared at Brynhildr. The man smiled. He then kissed Brynhildr. The two engaged in a lip locking contest until their lips met. Brynhildr draped her arms over Sigurd's shoulders. Sigurd quickly undid his clothes. Brynhildr ripped Gudrun's dress off. Without a second thought, the Valkyrie and the man held each other in a nude embrace.

Sigurd leaned forward and lip locked with Brynhildr. The Blood Valkyrie straddled on his lap and kissed his lips. Sigurd kissed and licked her breasts. She gave a sensual gasp while he licked her nipples. The more he licked, the harder her nipples got. Her eyes gazed downward and to her delight, she saw the man's hardened penis. She grabbed his long and hard cock, giving the man a handjob. After a few swift thrusts, white cum came splattering all over her. She licked the man's semen and grinned evilly.

"I dare thou to shove that into me. But, dost not hold back!"

Not one to disappoint, Sigurd promptly shoved his hard penis into Brynhildr's vagina. Then, he gave a few thrusts, rocking the Blood Valkyrie back and forth. Brynhildr threw her head backwards and let out a couple of loud and audible sensual cries.

"Oh, Hel! Fukka me harder! HARDER!" She screamed, demanding the man to go further.

Sigurd shoved his penis deeper into Brynhildr and made her scream with delight. He followed it with a few swift and hard thrusts. Brynhildr gave loud moans and low, heavy pants. Sigurd felt his member ejaculating inside Brynhildr. As she felt the man's semen enter her and spill out of her vagina, the Blood Valkyrie's eyes rolled all the way back. Her face contorted as a horny smile adorned her facial features.

Brynhildr collapsed on Sigurd and grabbed his shoulders. Sigurd winced from her sharp nails digging into his bare skin.

Brynhildr leaned over and whispered into his ear. "Is this thou first time?"

"Yes."

"Thou art an impressive man, Sigurd." She smiled as she and Sigurd continued their intercourse.

During their intercourse, Brynhildr and Sigurd managed to heal each other's wounds. Their sexual intercourse felt more genuine unlike what their rapists did with them. Brynhildr healed Sigurd from Gudrun's rape. Likewise, Sigurd made sure to heal the Blood Valkyrie following being raped by the Gunnar illusion.

Brynhildr lightly shoved Sigurd to the ground and sat on top of him. She put her hands on Sigurd's and kissed him.

"Consider this a 'making the beast with two backs'," Brynhildr sensually smiled as she let Sigurd thrust his penis inside her again.

Brynhildr was under no belief she required a man to bring her happiness. No man before has brought her the joy she was experiencing this instance. Having consensual sex with a man for the first time seemingly brought Brynhildr true happiness. This true happiness might be what changes her, slowly moving her away from her berserker nature. She was conflicted. In her mind after overthrowing Odin, she wondered if she could settle down and produce a family with her first true love. She wondered if her future child can be happy and not turn out a monster like her. She feared if she became an 'Allmother', she might bring untold destruction to the Nine Realms.

"Sigurd… thank thee…" The Blood Valkyrie smiled as they locked eyes.

"Thou look prettier with a smile."

"Oh, shut up!" Brynhildr scowled as Sigurd rolled on top of her and shoved his penis into her.

"Yes, yes! FUKKA YES!" Brynhildr screamed with sheer ecstacy.

While the couple continued their intercourse, a hand grabbed Sigurd's Gram, which he left laying on the floor. Grasping Gram, the figure wearing a white mask shoved the blade through Sigurd's right shoulder in the middle of the intercourse. Sigurd howled with pain as he saw his own sword's blade shoved through his right shoulder. Brynhildr gaped in shock as she saw the masked figure pulling the sword out of the man's shoulder. Blood seeped from Sigurd's shoulder wound and drenched Brynhildr's face.

The figure promptly removed the white mask, revealing herself. It was Gudrun. A devious grin formed on the woman's face. She wiped Sigurd's blood across Gram and pointed it toward Brynhildr.

"I'm sorry. Did I interrupt your sex and candy moment?" Gudrun asked the two. "Oh, dear. I must've stabbed him too deep?" She casually shrugged. "Oh well, too bad. I already had my fun with him. Now yours is done."

"Sigurd! SIGURD!" Brynhildr held him, who was bleeding profusely from his shoulder.

"You better cover that wound or he's going to bleed to death."

"Damn…" Sigurd gritted as he started to feel cold from the blood loss. "So, she exploited my weak spot, which she found while she raped me."

"Weak spot?" Brynhildr was confused.

"The one place where the dragon's blood didst not cover…"

Gudrun answered. "I discovered a leaf-shaped mark on his right shoulder. I didn't think much of it, but there had to be some kind of significance to it. I sensed that spot was not well protected compared to the rest of his body." She raised the bloodified Gram in front of her face. Her evil grin broadened with sadistic glee. "And so I exploited that weakness and that became his undoing!"

"That leaf spot was the one place not absorbed by Fáfnir's blood," Sigurd revealed.

"What? No…" Brynhildr growled as she sensed Sigurd's body growing colder. "Sigurd! Dost not die on me! That fool Gunnar didst not teach me healing magic!"

Chortling, Gudrun lowered Gram. "Yes, about that. All that magic you learned from my brother? That was all an illusion. In fact, every magic you used was part of my Illusion's Touch. I made you believe you learned any magic. And the king? He was an illusion, too. And you didn't kill my weak fool of a brother. I had my real brother imprisoned in our dungeon while I turned the whole kingdom into an undead realm. I killed the real Gunnar and then set off to finish you two off. Well? What do you think?! Are you impressed how real I made the kingdom appear to you?!"

Upon hearing this, Brynhildr was at a loss for words. She couldn't believe she was under Gudrun's illusion. Not even the Blood Valkyrie's keen senses had been able to discern such mind trickery.

"Thanks to the Illusion's Touch, I altered your perception of reality. All of you became my little pawns in my own game." Based on her own nonchalant response, Gudrun thoroughly took pleasure in Brynhildr's utter silence.

"Then, all I hast learned… the magic… the power… everything I need to kill Odin?! It was all a farce?!"

"Sorry to say, but you're as powerless as you were when you first stepped foot inside the palace. I can easily kill you now in your broken state," Gudrun evilly smirked as she lifted Gram. As she walked over to Brynhildr, Sigurd stood ready to stop her, but he collapsed to a knee and succumbed to the blood loss he was suffering.

"Stay down, fool!" Brynhildr berated him.

"Still haven't keeled over? Oh well, I can help accommodate with that," Gudrun chortled as she blasted a beam through Sigurd's right shoulder, directly hitting the critical area where the leaf mark was. She watched Sigurd collapse as his wound bled out profusely.

Snarling with anger, Brynhildr lunged at Gudrun and tried prying Gram from her. The two tugged hard on the sword, trying to disarm the other.

Then Grani came charging out of his hiding place and attacked Gudrun in defense of Sigurd. Grani quickly got between the two women. The horse hopped on its hind legs and raised its front legs to trample on the sadistic woman. However, Gudrun yanked Gram from Brynhildr's grasp and slashed through Grani's body. She not just cut the horse, but eviscerated it. A single swing opened up a giant wound and spilled out the steed's intestines all over the ground. As a result, Grani collapsed in a heap and bled to death.

"GRANI!" Brynhildr then turned toward Gudrun. "THOU BIKKJE! THOU WILL DIE FOR THIS!" She lunged at Gudrun, but the former princess was more than ready to stop her.

Gudrun cast a paralysis spell that froze Brynhildr. She swung Gram at Brynhildr and delivered a vertical slash across the Blood Valkyrie's chest. Brynhildr collapsed on her knees and gazed over the large gash on her chest. Blood profusely spilled out from Brynhildr's wound.

"Heheheh, know your place, you foul-mouthed beast," Gudrun evilly smirked. Her eyes veered over Andvaranaut on Brynhildr's finger. "That must be the ring that nullified my brother's illusion's magic. Yes, there's a great corrupt power emanating from it." She walked up to Brynhildr and knelt down, looking her dead in her fading eyes. "If I remember correctly, based on the what the dark force told me, anyone who wields it either gets corrupted or faces great misfortune later in life. Well, it seems the ring has led you and Sigurd down a path to misfortune. Here. Why don't I hold onto it, dear?" She pulled on the ring, only for Brynhildr to grab her hand. "Hmm? Hey, let go." She frowned as the Blood Valkyrie tugged on the ring.

However, Brynhildr willfully tightened her grasp around Gudrun's hand. The princess tugged on Andvaranaut and gritted.

"I shalt not let thee take it, hora…"

"Defiant beast. Very well then, I'll take it by force," Gudrun grinned sadistically as she kicked Brynhildr's face in, knocking a few teeth from her mouth. She then stomped on Brynhildr's head and shoved Gram through her back. "Don't cross me, beast. I shall have that ring now!" She reached and tried to yank the ring off, but Brynhildr covered it.

Gudrun quickly seized Brynhildr's hand and put her foot on it. She then sliced off the Blood Valkyrie's ring finger. Brynhildr let out a blood-curdling scream as she rolled around and grasped her now bleeding hand. Gudrun picked up Andvaranaut and examined it. A sadistically gleeful look smeared over Gudrun's face.

"Well, aren't you a beauty?" Gudrun giggled, probing the powerful corrupt energies emanating from the object. "I just know with this ring, I can tap into its power." She cast an apathetic look on Brynhildr. "More than you'll ever know. Want to know why?" She knelt down and grabbed the back of Brynhildr's head. "Because I see a future where I can freely do what I wish. Neither you nor Sigurd are apart of it. So, this is where we part ways."

With that, the baneful woman dragged Brynhildr next to Sigurd's body. Brynhildr didn't hear Sigurd breathing anymore and saw the life in the man's eyes tragically fade away.

"Thou… THOU FUKKA BIKKJE! THOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

Gudrun used Gram to slice through Grani's wound, opening it up as a horrid stench from the steed's internal organs filled the air and attracted the insects to the carrion. Gudrun dragged Sigurd's body and pushed him inside his own dead steed.

"And now you'll be joining Sigurd in Hel," Gudrun seized Brynhildr's hair and dragged her into Grani.

Struggling to crawl out, Brynhildr was overtaken by the foul stench from the horse carrion. As she tried to escape, Gudrun kicked her back in.

"THOU SHALT NOT DENY ME REVENGE ON ODIN! I CANNOT DIE BEFORE HE!"

Hearing this, Gudrun's smile twisted. "Oh, don't worry. You will still have your vengeance on the Allfather. In fact, I intend to see it through."

"But, if thou kill me…"

Gudrun then placed Andvaranaut on her right ring finger.

"No… NO! DOST NOT!"

"If this ring can grant any power, I will use it to make sure your revenge is realized."

"How?!"

Clenching her hand, Gudrun saw the ring come to life and glow with golden light. Streams of mystic energies coursed through the woman's body, seemingly empowering her. Feeling an exhilarating rush of the mystic power flow through her, Gudrun let out a deep and relaxed gasp.

"Ah, yes! This is more like it! The power of Andvaranaut has accepted me without resistance," Gudrun proudly displayed Andvaranaut on her finger. "It certainly suits me better than it ever did with you, Brynhildr." Then, she materialized green flames in her right hand. "Now, I believe this is where we part ways."

"THOU WILL NOT GET AWAY, FUKKA BIKKJE!" Brynhildr savagely cursed at the woman and crawled with all her might, fueled with anger, toward Gudrun. "I SHALT KILL THEE FOR SIGURD AND GRANI!"

"Farewell, beast. Burn," Gudrun whispered with a cruel smirk. She then tossed a green flamed blast that set Brynhildr, Sigurd, and Grani ablaze.

As she was quickly covered in green flames, Brynhildr howled in agonizing pain. The flames seared through engulfing Brynhildr. Grani and Sigurd's corpses burned, but unlike Brynhildr, they were not alive to feel and see themselves being burned. Brynhildr was not so fortunate. She witnessed her mortal skin being melted and burned away by the intense flames. She was burned right down to her skeleton. Her hair had long since burned into dust. The still burning skeletal Brynhildr let out horrific inhumane screams, sounding more like a beast. Once her screams ceased, the Blood Valkyrie's skeletal remains fell and withered into dust, sealing her fate.

Just then, Gudrun noticed Andvaranaut glowing. The ring shot a ray of light that seemingly grabbed an orb of red light from the burning pyre. The red orb was then pulled in and absorbed inside Andvaranaut.

"So, the ring acted according to my will and collected Brynhildr's soul? Well now, this could lead to interesting possibilities," Gudrun gazed over Andvaranaut. "That's right. I told you I'd see to it your revenge against Odin won't be a waste. You will act according to my will from now on, beast. Too bad you won't be joining your lover in the afterlife."

With her evil smirk not leaving her, Gudrun walked away having accomplished her task. She got rid of the last remaining witnesses to the destruction of her former family's kingdom. Before departing, Gudrun picked up Gram. The sword's blade turned red like blood. The weapon had absorbed the blood from Sigurd, which was already mixed with Fáfnir's.

Eyeing the flames being put out by the arrival of rain, Gudrun stepped over the ashes of her former enemies. With her hunt accomplished, the witch set off carrying off her loot and searched for some solitude to decide her next move.

xxxxx

Having vanquished the last obstacles that would've deterred her path, Gudrun achieved her freedom from her princess responsibilities. She was no longer beholden to remain with a dying kingdom. The ring had presented her with visions of her future, including one of meeting an imprisoned trickster god.

"I can see it all. What my new purpose is, who I'm supposed to meet, and how I'll change the world. The dark matter already told me, but this ring has presented me with visions of what I can and will accomplish," Gudrun monologued as she lied on a rock with the sound of crashing water from a waterfall in the backdrop. Gazing over Andvaranaut, the former princess mulled. "But, now that I've severed ties with that decaying kingdom, I must rechristen myself. Give myself a new identity since I am a free spirit. I must put behind Gudrun, but what shall I call myself?"

After a few moments, the ring glowed with life and Gudrun blinked. She smiled and 'conversed' with the ring as if it were a sentient entity.

"Hmm, I never would've thought of that for a name. I like it." Gudrun stood as she raised her ring while it glowed. The light from the ring enveloped the young woman, changing her outward appearance to reflect her new given name. Her long, sandy blonde hair lost its natural color, turning white like snow. Green lime streaks surfaced through her white hair locks. Her purple eyes turned lime green. Her clothing altered as well; her gown gained green, black, and yellow colors. Despite the outward changes, her necklace and bracelets were maintained. Her lips became lime green.

After the ring changed her new outward appearance, Gudrun embraced the new her.

"Yes, this will do nicely. With this, Gudrun is no more. From this point forth, I am Kriemhild!"

xxxxx

Dimension: PV-18/Yggdrasil/Urðarbrunnr

Having witnessed the events play out toward the tragic end, the group fell into deep silence momentarily. As if Gudrun's presence and the events shifting into a horror-like atmosphere weren't disturbing enough, the end of Brynhildr and Sigurd shook them to their cores.

The silence was broken by Io speaking up.

"I know for most of you, this comes as a shock. In truth, this is the fate Brynhildr and Sigurd ultimately met," the Persona Vein logically informed them.

"For those of us who know the tale, we're not surprised. We knew this would happen, but how it happened… well, it was certainly not what I expected," Louis stated.

"Geez, we've been following those two nearly this whole time and now they're freaking dead?!" Ryuji exclaimed. "Like, that's it?"

"And now what? We're going to follow this Kriemhild's point of view?" Mia queried.

"After what she's done to her own kingdom, her brother, and those two, I'm almost afraid what she's going to do next," Yusuke stated his displeasure for the horrific turn of events.

"Hell, once zombies started coming into the picture, the mood changed fast!" Futaba exclaimed. "Like we went from some edgy take of a legendary tale into something straight out of a horror movie!"

"Seeing all those zombies was actually pretty disturbing," Makoto concurred with her friends' sentiments.

"Dudes, that wasn't as disturbing as that crazy bitch cutting off her own brother's balls off! Like, holy fuck!" Ryuji shouted while sighing with much relief he wasn't Gunnar.

"You better be nice to Miyako then, my dude," Futaba said, sneaking a maniacal grin.

"No way, Miyako would never do that."

"I couldn't believe Gudrun had all that planned out before Sigurd showed up," Haru said. "How was she able to know Sigurd would come?"

Skyler deduced. "I surmise the Yami Matter might've told her. What else has enough influence to compel an individual to commit insidious acts lately?"

Hifumi added. "So, the Yami Matter was responsible for not only communicating with Gudrun, but possibly telling her about Sigurd's arrival."

Ren surmised. "And it probably informed her about the ring. So, now we see it's switched hands from Sigurd to Brynhildr and now Gudrun took it."

Ann nodded. "Then she changes her look and calls herself Kriemhild. She's a complete psychopath!"

Mulling, Makoto leaned over with a hand on her chin. "But, that name Kriemhild sounds familiar. Louis, is that a name Gudrun used in the Norse Mythology?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"I know where else the name Kriemhild comes from. It reminds me of that dreaded Kriemhild Gretchen from Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica!" Futaba related this to everyone. "But, they're obviously different characters."

"Of course, but it's good you reminded us," Yusuke genuinely smiled to his otaku colleague.

"Since we're on the subject of those zombies, I couldn't believe the revelation of Gunnar's kingdom being a zombie infested place," Mia reminded them of the horrific twist after Brynhildr killed the illusion Gunnar, which undid the reality warp spell Gudrun placed over the already deceased kingdom.

"She's a complete monster for committing such a heinous act," Jack remarked.

"And then killing her own brother while leaving him to die and be devoured by the undead," Eva reproved Kriemhild's actions.

"I was clinging to Ren the whole time those zombies showed up!" Ann cried out, folding her arms around her husband's neck while shaking him hard.

"Them being the slow-moving zombies made them much scarier," Louis said.

"Yes, very scary!" Ann shook her head, her face nearly became pale with fright.

"Ok, they're gone now. You can let go!" Ren gagged as Ann squeezed him too hard.

Withdrawing herself from Ren, Ann apologetically whispered. "Sorry."

"I wasn't too scared, but I know Hifumi was creeped out," Skyler said, holding his girlfriend's hand.

The Shogi player softly sighed. "Well, yes. I kinda was."

"The Proto-Draugar art horrid abominations when a necromancer reanimates corpses," Skuld informed them. "My family and I hast seen what they can do to villages and kingdoms. For necromancers, they're the perfect army since they lack all forms of emotions, including fear."

"Yes, and I hast forbidden our people to use necromancy," Sága clarified to the guests.

"Well, to be fair, thou people never believed in the use of necromancy, Lady Sága. Thou people always believed the dead shouldst pass on and that their spirits shouldst become one with nature." Harald said.

The sage nodded. "Yes, but sometimes we hast to be sure newer generations art informed."

"I've heard of Draugar, but Proto-Draugar is new to me," Louis said. "I know in the mythologies, the undead are called Draugar."

"The Draugar art more sentient than the Proto-Draguar. Draugar art capable of speech and hast the memories while they were still alive. They art also capable of speaking as if they were still alive." Urðr explained.

"Yes, and Draugar dost not have the taste of flesh like Proto-Draugar do!" Verðandi stated.

"Ah, so they're more revenant-like than the traditional undead," Louis nodded, getting a clearer distinction between the two types.

"Hey, remember when the Vamkyries insulted us and called us Draugar?" Mia reminded her Revenant friends. "By their logic, we're like these Draugar?"

"The main thing we have in common is that we were once human and revived into non-human entities," Yakumo said, clenching his fists and staring into his own hands. "Based on our memories, we were revived into Revenants and required blood to survive."

Louis logically applied. "Yes, but we've learned to cope and manage our thirst very well. And when we do need to feed, we have friends to provide us animal blood or in some cases a human partner willingly offering their own blood to drink."

"Thou need blood to survive? And somehow thou art able to control thy urges?" Skuld asked the Revenants.

"Yes, it's difficult, but we've managed to find ways to adapt," Skyler said.

"Thou art not like the Draugar!" Blue chimed in as he looked at each Revenant. "I only see nice people!"

"We art good judges of character," Fang said. "Speaking for myself and my siblings, we see thee as good people and not monsters."

"Thank you," Mia genuinely responded to the quarter-Homo Yggr children.

"Yes, we like thee all!" Cheza replied with another bright smile.

"You're all too kind," Louis nodded with a composed smirk.

"If the children see thee as good people, then so do we. However, I wanted to be sure after meeting Miss Io, that thou all wouldst be most trustworthy." Sága stated. "We hast made the wise choice to entrust thee with our universe's history."

"Can I also add Brynhildr and Sigurd didn't start off on the right foot?" Ann addressed the lovers' meeting.

"I would say it was not what I expected, but this Brynhildr's character has shown us otherwise," Yusuke spoke for everyone's conviction about the unruly and rebellious Valkyrie they've been exposed to.

"On the one hand, it's sad they died they way they did," Makoto added before shaking her head. "But, I'm not the least bit sorry this Brynhildr met her end after seeing her behavior. I do feel bad for Sigurd and Grani dying."

"Still, she's not the worst of the Valkyries we've seen," Haru said.

"Can I also speak on the amount of sex we've seen up to now?" Ryuji pointed out. "I mean, goddamn. I'm not complaining, but man am I glad Miyako isn't here to see that or the zombie stuff!"

"Well, I don't consider Gudrun raping Sigurd to be hot stuff," Ann expressed her displeasure of seeing an innocent man being violated.

"Don't worry. None of us do," Ren said.

"Ok, so Kriemhild has the ring. What's next?" Futaba wondered about the evil manipulator's plans.

"What I want to know is how she's directly involved with Ragnarök," Makoto's intrigue matched everyone else's.

"Well, we shalt see for ourselves," Sága utilized her staff to recall the events following Brynhildr and Sigurd's deaths.

xxxxx

Dimension: Wulf-Edda/Asgard/Baldr's Funeral

Some time has passed since Brynhildr's exile and her recent death, the Asgardians were struck with the news of the tragic death of Baldr. Baldr's passing came as a horrific loss. The Allfather, too, was saddened with this passing. Many found it hard to imagine Baldr suddenly pass away, but when it was revealed he was murdered, the Asgardians demanded who was responsible.

When it was revealed to be Loki, the Allfather felt betrayed. First, Brynhildr and now Loki. However, Loki's betrayal was more personal to Odin, who took in and adopted him as a brother. Rather than execute the trickster, he banished Loki in a cavern in a forest near Gálgviðr, located on Jötunheim. The Allfather decided Loki deserved a more slow punishment than a quick death. Loki was to be binded to a ceiling with a Hlaup Hooded Viper above him and with its mouth agape to let its venom fall on and burn the trickster's eyes.

The funeral proceedings went without delay. The atmosphere was tragic and somber matching the gray sky that covered Asgard.

Like any other honorary event for the dead, Baldr was carried on a pyre of wood. Despite his tragic death, Baldr looked in peace. His appearance is that of a man with a moderate build. He has shoulder length, dark blonde hair and a thick blonde beard. His funerary garb consisted of a silver upper body armor, white leggings, a black loincloth, and brown furred boots. The Asgardian had his sword sitting inside his left hand. He was once considered Baldr the Blessed, also Sága's husband and Skuld's father.

Among those present: Odin, Víðarr, Thor, Sif, Heimdallr, Sága, Skuld, Urðr, Verðandi, Harald, Haakon, Eric, Freyr, Týr, Gulltoppr, Geirskögul, Skaði, Vör, Jörð, Freyja, Sigrún, Helgi, Eir, Thrúd, Göndul, Skögul, Mist, Ölrún, and Geirdriful. Many other Asgardians and Homo Yggr were in attendance for Baldr's funeral.

Those closest to Baldr cried and mourned their friend and family member. Sága, Skuld, and Harald took Baldr's death the hardest.

Now Baldr's widow, Sága is an age old Homo Yggr who despite her long lifespan managed to retain most of her youthful appearance. This Homo Yggr woman, standing 5'8 feet tall, has a slightly darker complexion than her late-husband's, and her skin tone appeared copper from a glance. The other Homo Yggr had similar dark and copper skinned complexions. Sága has long, back length midnight blue hair and dim gray eyes. The natural dimness in her eyes matched her somber and depressed mood. She wore a dark gray gown with Læraðr's Capra fur pelt covering her shoulders and going down her backside. Her legs and feet were inside black heeled ankle-length shoes. She also wore an ornately-designed necklace, golden earrings, and a headband with tufts of feathers on the sides. She had a pouch on a strap belt worn around her waist. In her right hand, Sága held a magical wooden staff forged from Yggdrasil's roots and bark. This was her trusted staff named Gambanteinn. Sága's occupation is the Homo Yggr's librarian, historical record keeper, and central protector of Yggdrasil. She was seen as the mother of the Homo Yggr.

Standing opposite from Sága is her daughter Skuld. She was a younger woman and one of the three Norns along with Urðr and Verðandi. She has a lighter brown skin complexion with some copper tone. She has long, shoulder-length black hair and purple eyes. She wore a dark blue sleeveless top, knee-length white dress, and yellow slip-on shoes. In respect to her father, she previously removed her ragged black cloak and hood to show her face. She was shorter than her mother, standing 5'5 feet tall.

Standing next to Skuld is her lover Harald, a fair-skinned man with wavy neck-length dark brown hair and light brown eyes. He wore silver body armor and boots. He was taller than Skuld, standing 5'9 feet tall.

Haakon is another fair-skinned man but with messy short blond hair and blue eyes. He wore his lavender body armor and armored boots.

Next to Haakon is his lover Urðr. Standing 5'8 feet tall, Urðr was a unique woman based on her outward facial and skin appearance as if coming from a 'far east' land from Midgard. She had a mix of a slightly tan and white complexion, granting her a uniquely exotic appearance. She has long back-length cyan hair and yellow eyes. She wore an attractive long sleeveless cerulean dress and white slip-on shoes. She also wore a clear veil adorning her shoulders and neck coupled with a golden head piece with a blue gem, golden oval-shaped earrings, and a golden necklace.

Eric is another fair-skinned man with rigid short black hair and reddish brown eyes. He was garbed in blue body armor and armored boots.

Opposite from Eric is his lover Verðandi. Standing 5'7 feet tall, Verðandi was very much like Urðr in regards to her fantastical beauty not commonly found in and near Asgard. Her facial and skin appearance was not much different. Verðandi has neck-length red hair and blue eyes. She wore a light sleeveless purple dress and black slip-on shoes. A black feathered veil was worn over her shoulders and neck. She wore a golden forehead headpiece with a purple gem centered, golden oval-shaped earrings, and a golden necklace.

Freyr, a man with a decent broad build and standing 5'9 feet tall, has neck-length honey blond hair and brown eyes. He wore dark red body armor, a dark blue cape, and a basic helmet with no horns or wings.

Týr, a larger built individual and standing 6'1 feet tall, has long, shoulder-length brown hair and blue eyes. He wore silver armor and boots covered with Slíðrugtanni fur and hide, and a horned helmet.

Next to Heimdallr is his trusted steed, Gulltoppr, a beautifully bronze horse with green eyes and a golden mane & tail. The horse stood 6'3 feet in height and has a length of 8'2 feet.

Opposite from Heimdallr is Skögul's sister Geirskögul. While not as elegantly beautiful as her sister, Geirskögul had a moderate beauty. Standing the same height as her sister at 5'10 feet tall, Geirskögul has long, wavy shoulder-length violet hair and blue eyes. Her skin complexion is the same as her sister's. She wore lavender sleeveless long dress. For this occasion, she wore sandals instead of being barefooted. She also wore a clear veil adorning her neck and shoulders, a bronze necklace, and bronze earrings.

Standing with Freyja were the three other members of the First Generation Valkyries. All four came garbed in their Valkyrie armor.

The first of the three, Skaði the Frost Valkyrie, was a 5'8 feet tall woman with shoulder length frost blue hair, which she now wore in a ponytail. Her eyes are frost blue. Her Valkyrie wear consisted of white body armor, armored gloves, and boots. She carried her frost blue helmet covered with icicles in her right hand.

Vör the Beast-tamer Valkyrie was a 6'1 feet tall muscularly-built woman with long back length dark red hair now worn in a ponytail. Like Sága and Skuld, she is a Homo Yggr. She has blue eyes. Her Valkyrie garb consisted of her bronze body armor and armored boots. In her left hand, the Valkyrie carried her horned helmet.

Jörð the Earthshaker Valkyrie was a 6'0 feet tall woman of toned build with short, neck length dirty blonde hair. She has brown eyes. Her Valkyrie garb was a revealing red battle armor coupled with silver shoulder armor wear. She has on a helmet fashioned like a facial mask. Her footwear are burgundy gladiator-styled armored sandals. She is Víðarr's mother and Göndul's earthbending teacher.

Standing next to Sigrún is her husband Helgi, a 5'9 feet tall, fair-skinned man with neck-length light blue hair worn in a ponytail. His eyes are green. He wore light gray body armor with purple clothing and armored boots.

Having resigned from her Valkyrie position, Sigrún left Asgard after disagreements with Odin over Brynhildr's exile. Couple that with constantly harassed by Göndul and Skögul, the former Valkyrie couldn't bear the thought of leading two insubordinates who would just disparage her. She gracefully left and gave Eir her blessing to lead the Valkyries. With Brynhildr and Sigrún out, the Valkyries's morale deteriorated. Sigrún was considered the heart of the team that kept them together, but with her gone and Eir leading, the arrogance and pettiness from the other Valkyries, sans Thrúd, intensified.

As for Sigrún, she ventured into Midgard to search for her friend Brynhildr. With no luck of finding the Blood Valkyrie, Sigrún met Helgi in a local town and enjoyed a conversation with him. They ended up married and had several children. The former Valkyrie greatly enjoyed her retirement in peace, but when Eir came to her about Baldr's passing, Sigrún agreed to return with her husband for the funeral.

For this occasion, Freyja the Love Valkyrie came garbed in rose and white body armor, rose armored gloves & boots, and a rose helmet. The carapace sides of her helmet have rose and white feathers jutting outward.

As Baldr was placed on a raft, the raft was pushed up a stream pouring into a massive lake. Ölrún and a group of archers launched a barrage of arrows lit with fire. The fiery arrows hit the raft where Baldr's body remained afloat. The flames engulfed the raft and burned Baldr's body.

Nearly everyone Asgardian and Homo Yggr present bowed their heads paying respect to Baldr the Blessed.

All but two individuals.

There was a mocking haughty laughter from Göndul and Skögul.

"Ohoho, Baldr the Blessed? More like Baldr the Fool," Skögul remarked, twirling a lock from one of her princess curls.

"If he got himself killed by Loki, then that shows how weak he is," Göndul scoffed.

Various faces from Asgardians and Homo Yggr alike pivoted toward the Valkyrie couple disparaging the deceased in his own funeral. It was the most appalling thing they had ever heard and seen.

"What? It is true. He died a fool at the hands of that loathsome trickster," Göndul remarked. "What dost thou sayeth, my love?"

"Oh, I am in complete agreement!" Skögul answered as she grasped her masculine lover's hand. "This funeral is so devoid of extravagance. It is drab. Our beauty and pureness transcends Baldr the Fool!"

Having heard enough their disparaging remarks, Sága and Skuld quickly confronted the two arrogant Valkyries.

"Be silent! Thou two loathsome cretins!" Sága angrily berated the two Valkyries. "Is this how thou honor the dead?! Thou art disparaging my husband!"

"And he was my father!" Skuld snapped at the two Valkyries.

Göndul quickly stood in Skuld's way. "And what art thou going to dost about it? I can crush thee here."

"I may not hast the strength thee hast, but dost not underestimate me!" Skuld stood up to the Masculine Valkyrie. Harald quickly intervened and moved Skuld away, preventing any escalating conflicts.

"Dost not push it. We will not stand for it!" Harald warned the two Valkyries.

Chortling, Skögul interjected. "My lover and I will hast to put thee in thy place."

"I thinkest not, arrogant fools," Sága brandished Gambanteinn and pointed it at the two Valkyries. She turned and addressed Skögul. "And dost not thinkest I hast forgotten when thee and thy lover disrespected my library. Thou both remain banned from setting foot near my library and our people's historical grounds. Thou two will one day suffer a fate worse than death for the lack of respect for thy ancestors and spirits that protects nature!"

The Valkyrie couple scoffed in response. Before they can retort, Eir suddenly became upset with the two disrespecting Baldr. Although unaware she is Frigg's reincarnation and Baldr is Frigg's son, Eir felt a strong bond when she watched Baldr's body being carried out.

Geirskögul and Heimdallr confronted Skögul. The Feminine Valkyrie gave a condescending retort.

"Oh, look who hast come to lecture me. Thou two art wasting thy time," Skögul turned her back to her father and sister.

"That was truly revolting what thou and Göndul didst! How couldst thou sayeth that?!" Geirskögul chastised her sister.

"Baldr hath no meaning to me and my love. If he dies, he dies. Likewise with anyone here. I dost not care as long as my love and I art together," Skögul blew a kiss to Göndul.

"Then, thou hast forsaken thy family," Heimdallr acknowledged.

"Of course, I hast. Thou two art dead to me." The Feminine Valkyrie arrogantly replied, giving a haughty laugh at their expense.

Many others showed disdain for the highfalutin couple. Some, including Jörð, shook their heads in shame over their horrible behaviors.

Having heard enough from the pompous duo disparaging Baldr, Sigrún pulled away from Helgi and walked over to Skögul. She clapped the Feminine Valkyrie's shoulder, causing her to whip around. Sigrún quickly landed a quick slap to Skögul's face. Skögul fell back with a bruised mark on her left cheek.

"Dost not think I hast not forgotten all the remarks about me!" Sigrún snapped. She then tried to grab the Feminine Valkyrie, but Göndul stormed over to save her lover. However, Sigrún managed to tear off a lock of a princess curl from the Feminine Valkyrie.

Realizing just one of her princess curls was yanked off, Skögul screamed with fury. "THOU BIKKJE!" As she rushed at Sigrún, Göndul stopped her lover from escalating the scene.

"This is for all the times thou harassed me!" Sigrún shouted, waving around Skögul's hair curl. "And this is for Baldr!"

"THOU WILL DIE, BIKKJE!" Skögul roared with fury.

Göndul quickly restrained her furious lover. "Easy! Sigrún is no longer one of us! She stepped down to become a lowly mortal and birthed half-Gulon children with a Midgardian! She is not a threat to us with her divine powers gone."

Having realized this, Skögul gave a haughty chortle. "Oh yes, she is but a mere mortal now. Sigrún, how pathetic thou relinquished divinity to be with a Midgardian man. Thou couldst hast all the benefits to lead us, but thou squandered it. What a shame."

As Helgi walked beside his wife Sigrún, the former Radiance Valkyrie retorted. "I may hast not found Brynhildr and given up my divinity rights, but I still have my integrity unlike thou two cretins."

Before the couple could respond, a powerful blast exploded in front of Göndul and Skögul. The charged blast came from Odin, who had his spear raised. With a menacing glare, Odin quickly silenced the two Valkyries and put them in their place. He minced no words with Göndul and Skögul, instead choosing to pay his respects for Baldr. Although he didn't harbor as much hate toward them as he did with Brynhildr, he wished for a karmic fate worse than death for the two.

The Allfather stared off in the distance where the fires that burned the pyre and Baldr's body died down. He noted the winter patterns have extended and been more prominent. He considered this along with Baldr's death as a sign of worse events to come.

xxxxx

Yggdrasil/Urðarbrunnr

"Odin, it hast been a long time, old friend," Sága addressed the Allfather, who arrived with Sleipnir.

Leaving his noble steed outside, Odin walked in with Sága. They descended beneath Yggdrasil to meet with the Norns - Skuld, Urðr, and Verðandi. The Norns showed three wells which Odin recognized. These wells were Urðarbrunnr, Hvergelmir, and Mímisbrunnr.

"Dost thou remember this well? Thou sacrificed thy eye for a drink."

Odin nodded. "I remember if it was yesterday, Sága. And thou hast aged better than I."

Sága eyed the Allfather worryingly. "Thou look very tired, Odin."

"If thou knew of all the hardships and betrayals I hast been through, thy heart would grow cold like mine."

The Homo Yggr woman responded with a pitiful smile. "I couldst relate, but I hast not met with betrayals."

Skuld spoke up. "Mother, we art ready."

"So, what hast thou summoned me here for?" Odin addressed the Norns.

Skuld calmly replied. "We hast determined a cluster of a dark outside force manifesting outside the Tíu Heimar. It is nothing like we hast sensed before."

Urðr added. "It is festering at a rapid rate. What is causing this might be linked to the escalating violence across the realms."

Verðandi nodded. "Midgard hast seen an increased number of wars. Violence among the Midgardians hast escalated. Greater numbers being lost to famine and disease."

Pointing to the wells, Skuld then showed Odin horrific images of warfare, famine, and plagues spreading over Midgard. She then shifted to the other realms, including Asgard.

"Dost thou not notice the Fimbulwinter ravaging most of the realms? Dost thou not see the endless winter patterns in thy kingdom?" Skuld queried to the Allfather. "Thy kingdom has been in decline for quite some time. These extended winters will make matters worse."

Not one to handle the harsh truths regarding his rulership and kingdom's status, Odin tightened his grip on his spear. Sága cautiously stared over him.

"Odin, please reserve thy anger," Sága cautioned him.

"And how dost this relate to the dark force? Is it related to the forthcoming Ragnarök?" The Allfather inquired to the Norns.

"The dark force may in fact accelerate Ragnarök's approach," Skuld warned him.

"Consider the recent passing of Baldr and the betrayal from Loki variables of the anomalous entities affecting the natural order," Urðr stated.

"These dark forces appear drawn to negative emotions and when violence is triggered." Verðandi added.

"And the levels of violence has escalated with these wars," Sága warned Odin. "Allfather, as a friend to another, I implore thee to warn thy people. Thou must avert this coming apocalypse. Whether it is this dark force or Ragnarök, thou hast to be careful. Move thy people if thou must! Even thou dost not hast the power to stop this apocalypse. Not in thy current condition!"

Furrowing his brows, Odin growled. "Who art thou to lecture me on how to run my kingdom?"

"I am only giving thou a warning as a friend."

"I hast heard enough!" Odin bellowed as he turned away, not looking at Sága and the Norns. "Thou hast the nerve to sayeth Baldr's death was the result of the dark matter possibly influencing Loki! I knew coming here was a mistake. I shouldst not be listening to thee and thy witches, Sága!"

"Odin!" Sága called to him.

The Allfather walked off and headed out to depart with Sleipnir.

"Mother, leave him," Skuld sighed out of exasperation. "Baldr's death hath taken a toll on him. His mental and physical conditions deteriorate as time passes. Nothing we sayeth will change his mind. He is set in his ways."

Sága watched Odin leave through a well. A saddened look appeared on her face. "I pity that man. He remains set to die on his throne, but I hast foreseen he will pick a successor. Hopefully it will not be too little too late. After all, it is what Sigrdrífa wouldst hast wanted."

xxxxx

Jötunheim/Gálgviðr/Cavern/Loki's Prison

Deep in a cavern and sealed off from the endless winter, an exiled trickster was placed in seclusion following Baldr's murder.

Suspended high near the cavern's ceiling, Loki was binded to three stones by 'human entrails turned to iron'. These entrails once belonged to Narfi, one of Loki's sons. Narfi was killed and eviscerated by his own brother Váli, who was turned into a Werewarg by the gods. These entrails were then removed from Narfi's corpse and used to hold Loki. Odin decided not only would Loki be punished, but his closest family would suffer the consequences. They were 'guilty by association' with the trickster.

He was beneath what appeared to be a woman turned to stone. This woman was Loki's wife Sigyn. The stone woman held a basin that contained and filled with a Hlaup Hooded Viper's venom. The serpent was suspended high into the ceiling. The venomous viper's mouth was agape. Its fangs were exposed, which secreted the venom to fall on the basin. Loki's eyes were forced open thanks to Odin's magic.

For sometime after Baldr's death, Loki was banished to this specific cavern by Odin. Every couple of hours, the viper's venom dripped onto Loki's eyes and burned them. Though Loki, like many deities, can self regenerate from a simple viper's venom, it still didn't spare him from the excruciatingly burning pains he's had to endure. His blood-curdling wails, which shook the earth, filled the cavern with horror and trepidation for anyone who stepped foot inside this cavern.

But, not this one visitor who just happened to walk into the cavern.

A hooded figure walked in after passing through the harsh winters. The individual knew exactly where to find the trickster. Then, when the figure appeared before Loki, she undid her hood and revealed herself to him.

Kriemhild gave a calm and pleasant smile.

"At last, I've found you, trickster. It has been a long travel to get here, but the payoff was worth it."

Upon seeing Kriemhild, Loki muttered. "...who… art thou…?"

"Someone who's going to grant you freedom," Kriemhild said as she threw a green and purple fireball that blasted the stone woman and the basin into pieces. With a flick of her finger, she formed a lime green whip-like projectile and cut the entrails binding the trickster.

The viper from the ceiling fell and crawled away someplace warm in the cavern.

Taking a few deep breaths, Loki closed his eyes and reopened them repeatedly. He crawled over to the nearest water hole and splashed a handful to moisten his eyes. Relieved he was still able to see, Loki turned and met Kriemhild's gaze.

Although cautious of her presence, Loki bowed. "T-Thank thee. I dost not know how thou found me, but I am grateful to thee."

Kriemhild gave a malignant giggle. "It's nothing, Loki."

The trickster was confounded she already knew his name. "And h-how didst thou know…"

"Who doesn't know you? When I heard Odin banished you, I was mortified. How could the Allfather do that to his own brother?!"

"H-He hadst a reason to. I killed one of his sons."

Kriemhild gave a half-hearted gasp. "You did?! That's awful!"

Loki sat on a stone and recounted the proceedings leading to his imprisonment. "If thou knew me, thou wouldst know I am a trickster god. I often played pranks with the other gods. Well, one prank went absolutely wrong. And it ended up costing Baldr's life."

Kriemhild listened with intrigue. "Do go on. I'd like to know what caused this."

"The gods didst not take my pranks seriously and told me to 'try harder if thou want our attention'. Well, being the master of trickery, I hadst to go further. I desired to get the attention of the Allfather, his sons, and his subjects. No one was taking me seriously anymore!"

"Yes, I can see how you'd want to vye for their attention. You were being ignored."

"We barely just met and yet thou understand me."

Kriemhild added. "I am a good listener. Now, go on. I want to know what happened with Baldr."

Loki glared at the odd woman suspiciously. He wondered if Odin sent her as a spy to observe and extract information from him to reveal why he killed Baldr. However, he sensed a strange malevolent essence unlike anything he's felt before. There was no possible way Odin would employ this woman to carry out a task.

Nonetheless, Loki continued. "This is going to sound strange, but when I fell into a depressive state, I felt something akin to a dark force manipulating my heart. It was like a voice in my head telling me to show up the Allfather and his subjects. It told me to play the cruelest prank on Baldr."

Upon hearing this, the mere mention of the 'dark force' brought a cruel smile to Kriemhild's face.

"Then, I let this dark force blacken my heart. I resolved to show Odin and his subjects I wouldst be appreciated! Odin even dared send me out to help slay my own grandchildren! I decided to get back at Odin, I wouldst play the cruelest trick on one of his sons. Víðarr and Thor were out of the question. So, I opted to choose Baldr. Baldr was on a down period, making him easier to exploit."

Kriemhild rubbed her hands together. "Oooh, this is going to get good."

"Initially I never intended to kill Baldr. All I wanted to do was play the cruelest trick on him, but that dark force… it coerced me to kill Baldr to avenge my grandchildren. But, I thought 'how couldst I possibly kill Baldr?' Then, it hit me. I recalled ages ago when Frigg was still alive. I remembered I considered playing a prank on Baldr a long time ago. I even recalled Baldr had a strange fear of arrows and spears from dreams he hadst. Under the guise of a beggar woman, I asked for a meal from Frigg. When she granted me one, I asked her, 'Didst all things swear oaths to spare Baldur from harm?' Frigg wouldst then reply, 'Oh, yes. Everything except the mistletoe. But this mistletoe is so tiny and innocent a thing that I felt superfluous to ask it for an oath. What harm couldst it do to my son?' Having realized this, I left and considered crafting an arrow made out of mistletoe… but, having realized I was given a home within Asgard. I couldst not do it and thought killing Baldr was most cruel."

"Until the Allfather forced you to help his sons and Valkyries slay your grandchildren."

Loki maintained his suspicious glare, finding himself disturbed by Kriemhild's nonchalant and all knowing response. "...yes. That was the catalyst to give me incentive to carry out my cruelest prank. It was years later after Frigg's passing and Baldr hadst grown into a man. He ended up in love with Yggdrasil's guardian, Sága, and together they birthed their daughter Skuld. Everyone loved Baldr. Both Asgardians and Homo Yggr alike! But, not I! I abhorred all the attention Baldr received! So, the dark force sensed the hatred in my heart and pushed me to carry out what I shouldst hast done!"

"Now, we're getting to the good part?"

"Recently, Baldr came to visit Asgard. Under the guise of an archer, I prepared to hit Baldr with an arrow forged from mistletoe. Then, I saw children approach him and the other gods for their favorite game. With so many brats in the way, I wouldst potentially miss my target. Then, I saw the blind god Höðr."

"We're getting somewhere."

"Thou see, Höðr was always left out of the gods's games due to his blind handicap. So, I approached the poor fool and asked, 'Thou must feel left out, having to sit back from engaging in the merriment. Thou not given the opportunity to show Baldr the honor of proving his invincibility.' The blind one agreed with what I said. Then, I offered him the shaft and sayeth, 'Here. I will point thy hand in the direction where Baldr stands and thou throw this branch at him.' Höðr went through with it and shot the mistletoe. It pierced Baldr straight through, and he fell down dead."

Kriemhild gleefully responded. "Yes! Finally!"

Realizing Kriemhild was celebrating someone's death, Loki was flabbergasted. "...thou think this is funny?"

"So, sorry. Do go on. You are not finished, correct?"

The trickster sighed and continued. "When the gods realized what hadst happened, a great sadness and anger shook the foundation of Asgard. The shot and the collapse of Baldr was heard across Asgardian halls. There were audible gasps and then a moment of silence. Everyone gathered near Baldr. Höðr was horrified at what he hadst done. He killed Baldr for me. It worked out as I wanted. Angst over the death of Baldr spread over Asgard. The news reached Yggdrasil where Sága and Skuld were mortified. Initially, Höðr was accused and he was exiled out of Asgard."

Kriemhild hummed and asked. "And how long did it take for Allfather and the gods to determine you were responsible?"

"Not long. Víðarr sent Höðr to see Hel, the ruler of Helheim and whose body is half disfigured… even I fear her."

"Hel is your daughter, I presume?"

The trickster had a dreadfully panicked look. "Yes, and the most terrifying one of my offspring."

Kriemhild giggled darkly. "I'd like to meet her. Wait, I think we can!"

"What?"

"Nevermind. Hold that thought. Don't you have a story to finish?"

"Yes, well…" Loki recounted the remaining events up to his imprisonment. "I hadst not anticipated them to meet with Hel. But, I did anticipate Odin sending messengers from all over the realms to find clues related to the death of Baldr. He wanted the true murderer to be brought to justice. It didst not take long for a messenger to find me. I couldst not escape Odin's messengers and they secured me. Once word spread all over that I murdered Baldr, almost everyone demanded for my head. Odin, who still couldst not bring himself to execute me, viewed me like a blood brother and instead sentenced me here."

Kriemhild picked up the pieces of Sigyn and eyed the iron entrails belonging to Narfi. "And I presume these were used to bind you?"

"They were once my family. The woman in stone was my wife, Sigyn, and those entrails once belonged to my son Narfi. Allfather hadst me bound to the ceiling by my own son's entrails. Thou see, my other son, Váli, was turned into a Werewarg and killed his brother, ripping out his entrails. Sigyn was turned to stone and used to hold a bowl over my head to keep the venom of a viper from falling into my eyes." The trickster then scowled and conveyed his disdain for the gods. "This was my darkest period. The worst punishment a god such as I could receive."

Having heard Loki's story, Kriemhild clapped her hands, drawing Loki's attention to her. "What a touching story for a fallen god such as yourself! I almost wept!"

Loki frowned. "Clearly, thou didst not weep."

"I doesn't matter how I feel. What's most important is how do you feel about getting revenge on Allfather and Asgard for discarding you in this manner?"

"But, I sort of deserved…"

Kriemhild closed his mouth. "No, that's not good enough reason for them to exile you! You deserve recognition! They clearly didn't take you seriously anymore. You wanted to show them up and get their attention. So, you killed one of Allfather's blessed sons? Who cares? Baldr's dead and is not coming back!" She squeezed Loki's shoulders. "But, you're still here. And with my help, I can grant you the revenge you desire."

"Yes, but that is easier said than done."

"Question, Loki. You mentioned a dark force manipulating you?"

"Yes. I was down in the dumps and fell into a depression. Then, this dark force came to me in the form of some voice. It compelled me to kill Baldr."

Kriemhild smiled darkly. "I, too, have been in contact with these anomalous forces at work. I've been in contact far longer. The dark matter and I became drawn to each other. And it gave me the power I now wield. Also, thanks to the dark forces, I was led to this." With that, she showed Andvaranaut on her finger.

Loki's eyes widened at the sight of the ring he took from Andvari. He closely examined Andvaranaut and confirmed it being the same ring.

"I-I cannot believe it! It truly is Andvaranaut! But, the last time I hadst it I gave…"

"Gave it to King Hreiðmarr in Svartalfheim. Then, as a result, his son, Fáfnir, became consumed with greed. He killed his father and made off with the ring. Their dominion was met with great misfortune. Anyone who wields this ring is met with untold death and destruction. The wearers either become cursed or die. Loki, you were smart enough to get rid of this ring." Kriemhild explained while the trickster remembered relinquishing the ring in exchange for being spared for killing Hreiðmarr's son Ótr. "Sometime after, the ring's curse turned Fáfnir into a dragon. Then, one day, a valiant young warrior named Sigurd slayed the dragon and took the ring. During his later journeys, he happened across a sleeping maiden. He climbed the burning castle and awoke the maiden, who happened to be a Valkyrie beast named Brynhildr."

As Kriemhild continued, Loki saw Brynhildr's soul screaming inside the ring. He was rattled by the Blood Valkyrie's horrid and ghostly wails.

"B-Brynhildr?! Didst thou just sayeth Brynhildr? The Blood Valkyrie?"

"Yes! She was quite a troublesome beast, but wait until I get to our meeting. Unable to take Brynhildr out of the castle, she and Sigurd realized there was a barrier sealing her from leaving. So, Sigurd decided to leave to find a powerful sorcerer who could help him bring down Allfather's barrier. He found a nearby kingdom where a king and his sister reigned. He asked this king named Gunnar to help craft a spell for him to bring down the barrier. Then, the princess, Gudrun, also offered her services. Tired from his journey, Sigurd was asked to stay." Kriemhild forged a purple flamed orb in her right hand. It replayed Gudrun using her paralysis magic to bind Sigurd and extract his memories regarding Brynhildr. "When Gudrun extracted information from Sigurd during his sleep, she have the information about Brynhildr to her brother. Gunnar used this information and turned himself into Sigurd. Once he brought down the barrier, Gunnar brought Brynhildr to his castle. From there, he taught the beast some magic while Gudrun had her way with Sigurd."

"So, that is where Brynhildr hath been this whole time?"

"Brynhildr caught Gudrun raping poor Sigurd and stealing his virginity away. Gunnar intervened and he made the mistake of trying to rape the Valkyrie beast. Once Brynhildr killed Gunnar, it was revealed 'he' was an illusion, In fact, everything about the castle and the kingdom was an illusion. The horrible truth came out. The kingdom had in fact been a haven for the undead for quite some time."

Kriemhild showed the sequence of events play out like a film to Loki. The trickster found himself unnerved by the people revealing to be Proto-Draugar.

"Brynhildr and Sigurd managed to escape on Grani, but they wouldn't get far. First, there was one loose end to get rid of. Gudrun went into the dungeon and there she visited her dearest brother, who was chained up as her personal prisoner. He pleaded with Gudrun to free him, but sadly there was no room for failures. So, Gudrun cut off ties with Gunnar and left him to be eaten by the undead."

Upon seeing the Proto-Draugar devouring Gunnar, the trickster nearly wanted to vomit. Even if he wasn't able to spell the horrid stench, he can just imagine the disgusting fate Gunnar endured in his final moments of his life.

"Wasting no time, Gudrun left and confronted the remaining loose ends. She caught the beast and her man having an intercourse, but this wouldn't end on a happy note. No, no, no. Gudrun quickly disposed of the three. First, Grani. Then, Sigurd. And then she wounded Brynhildr and took this ring she wore. She put them together inside a horse pyre and set them all ablaze in a scorching inferno. I can recall the blood-curdling screams while Brynhildr burned alive."

Loki watched Brynhildr's final moments as the glowing fire showed Gudrun's transformation into Kriemhild. "Thou art the one who killed Brynhildr?!"

"Yes, and this ring was once hers. Now, she like many others died as a result of the ring's curse."

"But, now that thou wear that ring… that means thou will be cursed, too!"

Kriemhild giggled malignantly. "I wouldn't worry. You see, the ring and I have established a bond no other wearer has had. I've even conversed with the ring. Both of us have communicated with the dark matter that's changing the shape of the realms."

"Changing the shape of the realms? Between the Fimbulwinter and the rising conflicts throughout the realms, Allfather was forewarned of Ragnarök."

"Yes! And we're going to bring Ragnarök to Asgard."

"We?"

"What do you say, Loki? God of Mischief? Will you let me help you stage war with Asgard? I have already decided plans to go to each realm and recruit an army large enough to match Asgard's forces? Well?" Kriemhild extended a hand to Loki. "With the ring's power, we cannot lose."

Loki took a deep breath and stared at the ring. He resolved and firmly shook Kriemhild's hand.

"So, I didst not get thy name. Thou art clearly not Gudrun anymore?"

"Correct. You may call me Kriemhild the Unmoralisch Harlequin. I am also referred to as the Agent of the Unmoralisch."

"So, that soul in thy ring really is…?"

"It is Brynhildr. The ring took her soul after I burned her. Here, allow me to show you proof." With that, Kriemhild invoked the ring's power as it glowed and summoned the familiar shape of Brynhildr.

The Blood Valkyrie physically appeared before Loki. The trickster quickly took on a defensive stance. Kriemhild giggled and tapped Brynhildr's shoulder.

"You may relax. This is but a mere illusion created from my Illusion's Touch. All I did was create a copy based on Brynhildr's original appearance. I've made sure to seal away any memories she has about me. Brynhildr's soul is subject to my will."

"Well, that is a good thing. So, art thou going to use this illusion to help us in the war?"

"Indeed. Wait until Allfather sees the Blood Valkyrie return leading the other realms against Asgard. Allfather is in for quite a shock."

"So, where to first, Kriemhild?"

She walked outside with Loki and the Brynhildr illusion. "Since we're in Jötunheim, we can visit Hrym. Let's see how he feels about joining us on our crusade against the Allfather."

xxxxx

Jötunheim/Útgarðar/Hrym's Throne

Not too long after their conversation, Kriemhild and Loki arrived at the capital of the realm. Once they granted an appointment with King Hrym, Kriemhild and Loki appeared before the Jötnar ruler. Loki slightly cowered before Hrym, recognizing his feared reputation. Kriemhild showed no concern and maintained her composure. Both sides, mostly Kriemhild and Hrym exchanging dialogue, discussed joining them in a jointed effort to wage war against Asgard. Kriemhild alluded to Ragnarök, which garnered Hrym's immediate attention.

Loki scanned Hrym's royal chamber and noted a mural hanging behind Hrym's chair. This mural depicted pictures of four Jötnar. There were three smaller Jötnar centered on the bottom with a larger Jötnunn above them. On the left is Kári, a Wind Jötunn, also known as a Vindthursar, who resembled a green-armor bodied golem with thin arms and enlarged forearms. On the right is Ægir, a Sea Jötunn, also known as a Sjórisar, who was a blue-armor bodied golem with a demonic visage and short-armed claws. Sitting upright in the middle is Logi, a Fire Jötunn, also known as an Eldjötunn, who was depicted as an orange yellow-armor bodied golem with a round form and orange armor adorning its shoulders. The large Jötunn is Fornjót is depicted as a giant whose body is comprised of the three aforementioned Jötnar. Fornjót is the father of the three Jötnar.

Sitting on his throne chair called Jötskjálf, Hrym's massive frame towered over Kriemhild and Loki. When he stood from his chair, the half-Frost and Mountain Jötunn was a 9'0 feet tall behemoth with long, shoulder length white hair, a white beard, and brown eyes. Hrym wore a dark gray shirt, black baggy pants, and dark gray armored thigh-length boots. A single piece of dark gray armor adorned his right shoulder. He wore black armored elbow-length gloves. He wore a grass green cape and a rusted gray helmet.

As his kingdom's acting Skrýmir, Hrym is the current and third ruler of Jötunheim in succession of his bloodline. Before his older brother, Thrym, ruled before him. And before him was their father Útgarða-Loki, a Frost Jötunn whose wife was a Mountain Jötunn. Hrym also had a sister named Leikn. Útgarða-Loki and his sons each ruled as ruthless kings, but Útgarða-Loki was the cruelest of them all. Jötunheim and Asgard's antagonistic rivalry started with him and continued with Thrym's feud with Thor. Thor ended up killing Thrym and Leikn, giving Hrym enough drive to avenge his brother and sister.

Speaking in an unrestrained and deep tone, the half-Frost and Mountain Jötunn addressed Kriemhild's proposition. "A chance to settle the feud with Asgard once and for all? My chance to avenge my fallen siblings? Thou shalt give me an opportunity to spill Asgardian blood?"

Kriemhild smiled. "So, what do you say, King Hrym. You sound enticed enough."

"Indeed, I shalt lend my armies to aid thee against Asgard. As this realm's Skrýmir, I will see to it the Allfather falls!"

Glancing past her right shoulder, Kriemhild whispered to Loki. "And that is how you conduct a successful negotiation, trickster."

Loki sighed. "Thou art better than I when using a snake's tongue, Kriemhild."

"Just wait until we meet with the other realm's rulers."

xxxxx

Muspelheim/Múspell/Surtr's Throne

Using the ring, Kriemhild teleported herself and Loki to the World of Fire. Much like with Hrym, they were granted a meeting with Surtr, the ruler of Muspelheim's capital Múspell.

Staring down over Kriemhild and Loki, Surtr sat up from his fiery throne named Muspelskjálf. Surtr was a slightly larger being than Hrym, standing 9'2 feet tall. He was a being with a darkened molten layered body. Underneath the molten rock skin was fiery lava pumping through him like blood. A pair of yellowish orange horns protruded from the sides of his skull. His visage resembled a demonic skull coupled with fiery yellow eyes. He wore a flaming yellow and orange beard coupled with a reddish orange mane. Surtr had on obsidian armor trimmed with red resembling his own molten rock body. A red circular emblem filled the centerpiece of his upper body armor. Silver metal spikes protruded over his back armor.

A couple of Surtr's guards, fire dämonen, hissed and expelled fire at Loki, who quickly cowered before Surtr.

"L-L-Lord S-S-urtr, it is an honor to be in thy presence! We…!"

Surtr growled, blowing fire from his nostrils. "Get to the point, trickster. Least thou wish to be a chew toy for my denizens." He cast his eyes on his subjects inching toward Loki.

"Ahh! Kriemhild, now wouldst be a great time to work thy negotiation skills!"

Chortling, Kriemhild walked up and addressed Surtr. "As the trickster says, we're here because we're looking for recruits to wage war on Asgard. We've so far acquired the help and services of Hrym."

"Hrym of Jötunheim?"

"Correct. Lord Surtr, we'd be honored if you'd lend your forces to us. And perhaps you as well since Hrym has agreed to join us."

Surtr growled. "Why shouldst I, woman?"

"It'd be in your great interest, Lord Surtr." She said without so much of batting an eye.

As Surtr eyed Kriemhild, he noticed the fearless vibe she seemed to give off. Even the mightiest of beings he's slain have cowered before their lives were extinguished. However, Kriemhild didn't show any fear. That is until Surtr sensed something 'off' about Kriemhild. His demonic visage conveyed dread when he felt her hidden powers. He sensed the dark matter exuding from the woman, causing his molten blood to cool.

"Lord Surtr, is something wrong?" A subject of his queried to his horrified ruler.

The Muspelheim ruler stammered. "Wh-What art thou, woman? Thou art not a simple Midgardian… but some kind of creature not from any realm."

Kriemhild responded calmly. "I ask again. Would you like to join us to bring down Asgard? Together, we can ensure Ragnarök goes as preordained." She gave a calm and menacing smirk." She put a hand out. "It would be in your best interest and I'm sure you'd love nothing more than to witness the Allfather's demise."

As he sat down on his throne, Surtr cackled. "Who wouldst not want to see that arrogant Asgardian and his people die by my sword Muspelbrandr."

"Then, you will help us?"

"I will, but permit me to inquire. What name hast thou decided on?"

Loki was befuddled. "Name?"

"The name of our alliance."

Kriemhild answered. "Loki, do you remember the name we suggested?"

"Yes, but I thought it too obvious since it is named after me ever slightly?"

She smirked. "No, it has grown on me. Lord Surtr, we shall be known as the Lokar."

xxxxx

Svartalfheim/Niðavellir/Caverns

After acquiring Hrym and Surtr's services, Kriemhild and Loki arrived in the cavern lair of the Dwarven brothers Brokkr and Eitri. The brothers negotiated with the Lokar head members.

Brokkr and Eitri are twin brothers, but had distinguishing characteristics that set them apart. Both shared the same height at 8'0 feet tall.

Brokkr had long back length reddish brown hair and a thick reddish beard with some signs of gray due to aging. He has green eyes. He was garbed in a dark blue shirt and dark brown baggy pants. He also wore black armored knee-length boots & elbow-length gloves, a dark gray upper body armor, a red cape hanging on his back, and a rusted twin-horned helmet.

Eitri had similar length hair like his brother's, but his hair is dark brown. He has a thick dark brown beard with similar grays showing. He was seen wearing a dark gray shirt and dark gray baggy pants. He also wore silver armored knee-length boots & elbow-length gloves, a dark purple upper body armor, a yellow cape fluttering on his back, and a rusted one-horned helmet. The left horn of the helmet remained intact while the right horn was broken off as a result of years of fighting.

"So, what do you say, Dwarven brothers? Are we in agreement?" Kriemhild asked. "But, remember. The choice is yours."

Brokkr and Eitri turned to each other and huddled whispering.

"What dost think, brother?" Eitri asked him.

"I dost not trust this woman, but…"

"What is it, Brokkr?"

"I sense a mysterious dark vibe surrounding her. I cannot explain it, but it troubles me. As if she couldst kill us now if she wants to."

Eitri glanced toward Kriemhild and narrowed his eyes. "I can see why she hath thee disturbed, Brokkr. What now?"

Brokkr rubbed his thick beard. "We do have similar interests. We both want Asgard to fall and the Allfather to be humbled. He and those wretched Asgardians hast slain enough of our people."

Eitri growled. "Yes, consider this our last chance at retribution."

As the Dwarven brothers approached Kriemhild, they accepted their alliance with the Lokar.

xxxxx

Alfheim/Midwinter Palace

Arriving in the Unseelie stronghold, the Midwinter Palace, Kriemhild and Loki met with Byggvir and Beyla. Alfheim, the Home of the Light Elves, was divided into two clans: the Seelie and Unseelie. Byggvir and Beyla, also known as Puck and Mab, established the Unseelie and populated their clans in direct conflict with the Seelie.

At 5'10 feet tall, Byggvir is a moderately built, middle-aged, gray-skinned Elven man with long back-length white hair with braided hair in the middle. He has honey yellow eyes. He wore a silver and blue robe. He had on black body armor fitted underneath this robe. He wore a black crown coupled with a lilac inside the centerpiece of his crown. A pair of silver earrings adorned his earlobes and a pair of clear wings folded on his back.

Opposite from Byggvir is Beyla, an alluring and youthful Elven woman. At 5'7 feet tall, the gray-skinned Elven woman has long back-length lilac hair and red eyes. She wore an olive green full-bodied battle armor and a white war dress. Adorning her head is a similar black crown. A lilac gem gleamed on the centerpiece of her crown. She, too, wore silver earrings, but has green mantis wings.

"Lords of the Unseelie, would you lend us your support in the coming war against Asgard?" Kriemhild asked of them. "I promise by aligning with the Lokar, there won't be nothing to stop us. Not even the Seelie will make a difference."

Byggvir and Beyla had a brief debate about joining the Lokar's cause. At first, they were despondent as they were hesitant to cross the Allfather, but they had seen enough of Asgard's pompous and elitist attitudes demeaning every other realm.

"Yes, we agree to join thy cause," Beyla addressed the two Lokar head members.

"But, Loki, we hast our eyes on thee," Byggvir cast a glare at the trickster. "No treachery from thyself!"

Loki shuddered. "Why must everyone disparage me?"

Kriemhild giggled. "Don't take it personally, Loki. You were responsible for Baldr's death. Is it a wonder barely anyone trusts you? Why do you think I suggested I'd make the negotiations?"

The trickster sighed. "Well, thou art better at it than I could at this point."

"Don't worry. Just a few more realms to go."

Unbeknownst to them, a white butterfly on a side wall observed and doubled as a witness, recording visual images of the negotiations, transmitting the footage to the Seelie rulers.

xxxxx

Alfheim/Midsummer Palace

Watching closely from their royal chamber, the Seelie leaders, Yngvi and Yngva, witnessed their Unseelie counterparts forming an alliance with the Lokar.

Also known as Oberon, Yngvi was a 5'11 feet tall middle-aged, pearl-skinned Elven man with long, back-length white hair with a braided section in the middle. He has honey yellow eyes. He wore a white royal shirt with white armor trimmed with green and gold. He wore matching white pants. A shimmering silver cape cascaded over his back. Adorning his forehead is a white crown coupled with a green gem inside the crown's centerpiece. He has a pair of clear wings on his back, but were folded until he was ready for flight.

Known to her people as Titania, Yngva was a 5'8 feet tall alluring and youthful pearl-skinned woman with long back-length ginger hair. She has green eyes. She wore a royal lime dress with white armor trimmed with gold and green, and elbow-length gloves made of linen fabric. A similar white crown adorned her forehead. This crown also has a green gem on the centerpiece. She wore golden earrings and olive green wings.

Yngvi and Yngva exchanged worried looks.

"Byggvir and Beyla hast forged an alliance," Yngvi muttered.

"We must warn our people. This news must be made known," Yngva added.

xxxxx

Helheim/Gnipahellir

Appearing in the Land of the Dishonored Dead, Kriemhild and Loki walked through an obscured mist, which seemed to run on endlessly. Then, they stumbled on a pair of massive gates. These gates are obsidian and resembled flayed body parts. These gates are known as Helgrind.

Guarding these gates is large canine covered with dark gray fur. Its gleaming yellow eyes cast a terrifying gaze on the newcomers. Loki noticed the orange pupils upon a closer look at the gate guardian. Up to its legs, it stood 5'5 feet tall, but Garmr's real height was 6'4 in height. Garmr had a 8'7 body length.

Garmr snarled, baring his sharp teeth at the Lokar head members. "Who dares trespass near these gates?! I am Garmr, sworn guardian of the Helgrind gates! State thy business here!"

Slightly cowering, Loki stuttered. "Hello, Garmr! I-It is I, Loki! W-We came to see the Helheim ruler. We came to see Hel… my daughter!"

Garmr poked his face in front of Loki and puffed in his face. "Thou daughter hath disowned thee. Thou art nothing but a petty man to Lady Hel."

"See what I mean, Kriemhild? My own daughter hath forsaken me!"

Chortling, Kriemhild approached Garmr and placed a hand out. Initially ready to attack the woman, Garmr paused and sensed the dark matter's presence emanating from Kriemhild. Garmr withdrew his jaws.

"We've come to conduct business with your ruler, Garmr. Please grant us entry."

Garmr's face conveyed fear. "O-Of course… right this way." He opened the gates for them.

Loki let out a relieved sigh. "Just how dost thou do it?"

Kriemhild smirked. "I have tempted with forces more terrifying than an overgrown puppy."

xxxxx

Helheim/Helreginn/Hel's Throne

"So, thou decided to show thyself before me, trickster?" A whispering and frightening tone addressed Loki, who was already down on both knees. She cast her gaze toward Garmr and snarled. "Thou art dismissed, Garmr. Return to thy post."

Garmr bowed and left.

"Daughter, please I can explain…"

"I know thou hast come here for a reason, trickster. And thou hath brought a woman here, but I sense something peculiar about her." The Helheim figurehead stood and floated off her throne chair Helskjálf.

"It is an honor to meet you, Hel, ruler of Helheim," Kriemhild politely addressed her.

Standing 5'10 feet tall, Hel can be described as a neutral figurehead regarding the concerns of the other realms. She was also an individual noted for her half-beauty and half-monstrosity. The right side of her face is relatively normal and maintained his beauty; the left side is corpse-like and disfigured with her eye almost like it were ready to pop out. She has long back-length carmine hair. In relation to her two-faced appearance, she has a heterochromic look; her left eye being yellow and her eight eye being emerald. She wore a black dress revealing her bare shoulders, collarbone & upper bosom area, and the back. She wore a silver necklace. Her eyeshadows consisted of a mixture of black and dark purple shades. A black crown adorned her head and doubled like a headdress.

"Thou hast a strange aura exuding from thy presence. State thy name."

"I am Kriemhild and I like your throne room. You have exquisite taste in decorum."

Hel frowned. "Get to the point, Kriemhild. What is it thou art here for?"

"Of course, your father and I are here to recruit you for wage war against Asgard."

"War against Asgard?" The Helheim ruler suspiciously gazed at them. "Thou wish to accelerate the process leading into Ragnarök?"

"We are going to end Asgard's reign. The Allfather is aging and his kingdom's morale is at its low point. The Asgardians question whether Asgard has much time left. Even its people have grown weary of Odin's tyrannical rule."

Hearing this, Hel's face was neutral. She had a previous history with Asgard. She was once apart of the First Generation Valkyries and an old friend of Frigg. However, following Frigg's passing and reincarnation into Eir, Hel departed and returned to her realm. Since then, she's formed doubts of Asgard's political leadership under Odin and became bothered by the kingdom's grandiose reputation.

"Hmm, do you need a little time to think about my proposal, Hel?" Kriemhild queried.

"I once considered Asgard a place I could call my own. Thou probably never knew this, but I was once one of Asgard's Valkyries."

"Interesting. This is news to me."

Loki smiled proudly. "And thou were a beautiful and powerful Valkyrie, Hel. Thou were called the Underworld Valkyrie."

"And I knew someone who I regarded a dear friend. She was the leader of our Valkyrie unit. Her name was Frigg."

"Yes, the late-wife of Odin. I recall she sacrificed herself," Kriemhild pointed out.

"She sacrificed herself for us and another Valkyrie unit. It took our combined might to defeat our common foe."

Hearing this, Kriemhild smirked. "And who might that foe be if I may ask?"

Clenching her right hand, Hel gritted. "She was known as Grímhildr the Unmoralisch, a truly despicable being."

"Very interesting, but she's gone, isn't she?"

"Yes, and it took the sacrifice of two of our own Valkyries, including Frigg. After that, I left after I noticed Odin's change in his stance on many subjects. Losing Frigg turned the Allfather into a vengeful, power mad, and paranoid individual. Nowadays, the Allfather is a petty shell of his former self. I dost not agree where Asgard hath gone since my departure. I cannot even show it much reverence. If I couldst, I couldst destroy it and restart it anew."

Kriemhild smirked darkly. "Well, that is the purpose of Ragnarök. We can destroy Asgard and create something new in its place. Like any cycle of death and reincarnation, the former Asgard can die and a new kingdom can rise from its ashes." She extended a hand to Hel. "We can make it happen, Lady Hel. Join us, The Lokar, and we can make anything happen."

Hel mulled her decision. She turned to her father and then back to Kriemhild.

"Fine. Thou hast convinced me. Let us destroy Asgard and allow for a better kingdom to rise in its place," the Helheim ruler shook Kriemhild's hand, forging her alliance with The Lokar.

xxxxx

Helheim/Náströnd

Hel took Loki and Kriemhild to the space occupied by a fearsome beast. Upon seeing the massive beast, Loki was flabbergasted. Kriemhild became enamored by its presence.

"The trickster is already aware of this monster. However, Kriemhild, allow me to introduce to thee, Níðhöggr the Primordial Dreki."

"Magnificent," Kriemhild whispered.

The Primordial Dreki awoke from his long slumber. It had a length of 1,900 feet and towered at a staggering 1,500 feet tall in height. Níðhöggr's body was covered in dark gray scales. When he opened his orange eyes, he stared at Hel, Loki, and Kriemhild. This behemoth lacked wings, but considering his gargantuan size, he had no need for flight. He stood on all fours. His long neck gave him an impressive physique. His head was long, narrow, and rigid with a mouth lined up with bone crushing teeth. His forehead lacked any horns and bony protrusions, but there are small scale-like spikes normally found on crocodilians.

"Níðhöggr is the avatar of Ginnungagap. Kriemhild, we shouldst be honored to…" Loki stopped as he watched her approach Níðhöggr.

Níðhöggr lowered his head to meet Kriemhild. Without even opening its mouth, the Primordial Dreki let out a low haunting roar. Unfazed by Ginnungagap's avatar, Kriemhild put her hand on the beast's snout, causing Loki to flinch. Hel was more or less intrigued where this was going to lead.

"Níðhöggr, how would you like to us not only destroy Asgard, but reshape the entire cosmic tree? Yes, I'm sure you're well aware of Yggdrasil," Kriemhild whispered as she caressed Níðhöggr's snout. "You may have your fill devouring the World Tree. What do you say, avatar of Ginnungagap?"

Níðhöggr picked his head up and let out a screeching roar to the endless space.

"It appears that's a yes," Kriemhild confirmed. "Yes, he shall feast on the World Tree."

"This will upset the balance," Hel warned.

Kriemhild smirked. "A risk worth taking to bring Asgard and its closest allies down. Fear not, we will restart everything anew as you wanted, Hel."

"Right as thou sayeth."

Loki eyed his daughter before Kriemhild beckoned him.

"Come, Loki. Let us depart to the next realm."

The trickster replied. "The World of Ice is our next stop."

xxxxx

Niflheim/Hvergelmir

Kriemhild and Loki convened a meeting with the evil Norns, Sköll and Hati. It didn't take much to convince the five individuals to join The Lokar.

The leader of the Evil Norns, Aglaohilde, lied on a soft padded bed with her sisters laying opposite from her. Both sisters, Thelxielinde and Peisigunde, lovingly reclined across Aglaohilde's body.

"We wouldst gladly join thee," Aglaohilde answered Kriemhild.

Wearing a dark seductive look, Aglaohilde emerged from the dark corner, revealing herself to Kriemhild. She has long, straight back-length dark blonde hair and cold, lifeless brown eyes with tiny black irises. Her skin has a light brown mixed but with shades of a fair complexion. Standing upright, she was 5'8 feet tall in height. This evil Norn wore a dark blue sleeveless dress and a light blue veil adorning her neck & shoulders. Her accessories included a spiked crown with a green gem on the centerpiece, dark blue oval-shaped earrings, and a silver necklace. She was barefooted.

Standing up, Thelxielinde was 5'6 feet tall. She has a similar skin complexion like her sister. She has shoulder-length black hair tied into a ponytail and gray eyes. She wore a black sleeveless dress and a dark purple veil over her shoulders & neck. The evil Norn's accessories included a spiked crown with a yellow gem centered on it, red oval-shaped earrings, and a silver necklace. She, too, was barefooted.

As she stood, Peisigunde was roughly 5'7 feet tall. Her skin complexion is like her sisters. She has a rigid-styled, shoulder-length reddish brown hair and green eyes. She has a moss green sleeveless dress and a dark yellow veil over her neck & shoulders. Her accessories included a spiked crown with a red gem centered on it, purple oval-shaped earrings, and a silver necklace. She was also barefooted.

The sound of wolf snarls came from Sköll and Hati. Both bowed their heads like loyal dogs.

"And we will join The Lokar and see to it Asgard falls!" Sköll and Hati both declared.

The wolves were covered in ash gray fur. Despite their similar appearances, they are distinguished by their eye colors. Sköll has blue eyes with ivory pupils. Hati has red eyes with ebony pupils. Both stood 4'10 feet tall up to the leg and their base form was 5'6 feet tall in overall height. Their body lengths reached 7'4 feet.

Sköll snarled. "Grant us permission to devour Sól and Máni."

Kriemhild gladly granted. "Done. I hope you enjoy your fills!"

Aglaohilde and her sisters then declared. "And we shalt direct Níðhöggr toward the World Tree as thee suggest!"

Kriemhild clapped once. "Wonderful! So, we have the Yggdrasil front covered."

Loki added. "Now to free my sons. First, Fenrir."

xxxxx

Midgard/Amsvartnir/Lyngvi

Upon landing on the island Lyngvi in middle of Amsvartnir lake, Kriemhild once again summoned her Brynhildr illusion to assist her in locating Fenrir. They along with Loki happened upon the large wolf bound by Gleipnir. Kriemhild and Brynhildr worked together by wiping out Gleipnir, freeing Fenrir.

Howling for his freedom, Fenrir quickly recognized Loki. Fenrir is a massive black-furred wolf. His yellow eyes have crimson pupils, which he used to scan Loki.

"Fenrir, my son. I am glad to see thee!" Loki called to him.

"Father, I thank thee, but who art this woman and…" Fenrir sighted Brynhildr. "Brynhildr? Her scent seems different."

Kriemhild addressed the wolf. "Fear not. She's with us. Your father suggested we free you and your other brother."

Fenrir growled. "The World Snake."

"Yes! And we've already visited your sister. She has agreed to join our cause."

"For what? Father, what art we fighting against?"

Loki answered. "We art going to war against Asgard, my son."

"Asgard?"

"Will thou help us, my son?"

Fenrir closed his mouth and nodded. "An enemy of my father is an enemy of mine. I shalt fight with thee and help destroy Asgard. After all, they art responsible for binding me here!"

"Now, let us meet the World Snake!" Kriemhild declared.

xxxxx

Midgard/Kattegat

Amassed on a shore, Kriemhild, Loki, Brynhildr, and Fenrir watched as the still waters of the Kattegat shook hard. Kriemhild, Loki, and Brynhildr used their combined power to undo the seal of Jörmungandr.

A massive serpentine body emerged from the sea's depths. Everyone paused as a tidal wave headed their way, but all it took was Kriemhild to stop the wave with magic, sending the wave to crash into the still waters. When the World Snake was revealed, he was a giant whose length covered the entire planet. His body was covered entirely in dark green scales with black stripes spread over the body. He resembled a snake similar to a constrictor snake like an anaconda and the reticulated python. His head and massive bulk was akin to a Titanoboa. When he lowered his head, Jörmungandr's orange eyes stared over Loki.

Jörmungandr spoke with a long, black forked tongue sticking out. "Thank thee, father. I am thrilled to be free."

"I hast freed thy brother, Fenrir, and met with thy sister, Hel. We art going to take revenge on Asgard. Will thou join us, Jörmungandr?" Loki asked the World Serpent.

"Since thou freed me from my seal, I shalt! But, tell me who is this woman and why is Brynhildr here?"

Kriemhild reassured the World Serpent. "Brynhildr is with us now. And I will be aiding you in the war against Asgard. I have recruited many from the other realms. We'd be happy to have you join us."

Jörmungandr nodded. "Then, I pledge to witness the downfall of Asgard!"

"We have one more place to visit, Loki," Kriemhild said.

"Where wouldst that be?"

"You know where. We're going to the one who gave you this ring," she showed him Andvaranaut.

"Then, thou mean…"

xxxxx

Svartalfheim/Myrkheim/Andvari's Home

Andvari heard the sound of a blast outside his home. He woke up with a start and stormed out. He bolted past the waterfall obscuring his home. He saw Loki and Kriemhild awaiting him.

"Loki?! What art thou doing back?!" Andvari berated him. "I told thee never to return!" He looked away from the trickster as his eyes settled on Kriemhild. His eyes and mouth widened at Kriemhild's sight. Based on his reaction, he looked like he has just seen a ghost from his past. "I-It is thee… how can this be?"

"Look, apologies for my intrusions, but Andvari…"

"Forget thee, trickster! How is she still alive?!" Andvari pointed to Kriemhild. "I saw this woman die ages ago!"

"Thou hast lost me, Andvari. But, this is Kriemhild. We hast been recruiting allies from all the realms to wage war on Asgard. In fact, we were here not too long ago to recruit Brokkr and Eitri."

"The Dwarven brothers? Aye, they art strong bruisers, but… that is beside the point, trickster! If this is not Lady Grímhildr, who is she? She bears a resemblance to Lady Grímhildr!"

"Thou hast heard that name from thee before. And I heard Hel mention her. Kriemhild, what dost thou know?" Loki asked Kriemhild, who calmly smirked and walked over to Andvari.

"You must be, Andvari. Are you the one who gave Loki this ring?" She showed him Andvaranaut, which the Dwarf recognized.

"Y-Yes, I gave him this ring. But, how didst thou end up with it? Loki, didst thou…?"

Kriemhild nodded dismissively. "No, I took the ring from a Valkyrie named Brynhildr. Before her, a man named Sigurd possessed. And before him, Fáfnir had it, turning him into a dragon. And before him, King Hreiðmarr had it. And do you know who gave the king that ring?"

Andvari frowned and have Loki a piercing gaze. "I see. So, thou ended up passing the curse to others."

Loki looked away, whistling. "I dost not know what thou art talking about!"

Andvari growled. "I knew I couldst not trust thee!"

Kriemhild cleared her throat, garnering Andvari's attention. "Anyway, Andvari. We wish to recruit you."

"Sorry, but my fighting days art behind me. I wish to stay reclusive."

"That's a shame, because I doubt Lady Grímhildr would be pleased you turned down her successor."

Hearing this, Andvari blinked. "...thou art her successor?"

"More like her daughter," Kriemhild revealed. "I was born Gudrun, but with the power of this ring, I've become reborn as Kriemhild."

Both Andvari and Loki were shocked to learn this. However, Loki was more so surprised since he has been traveling with Kriemhild and has gotten acquainted with her. The whole notion of Lady Grímhildr went over his head after Odin and the Valkyries slain her ages ago. When looking over Kriemhild, he noted distinct characteristics that reminded him of Grímhildr. He then remembered Hel, who was one of the Valkyries who fought Grímhildr, had made a pact with Kriemhild. He wondered how he and Hel weren't able to discern Kriemhild and compare her life force to Grímhildr.

Andvari walked over and examined Kriemhild. "Thou look like thy mother. Thou even have a name similar to hers. Grímhildr. Kriemhild. Yes, I see it now."

"I know you are the last survivor of Lady Grímhildr's former army. That makes you a relic of my mother's forces. And as I understand it, you can turn into a dragon. So, I am going to make you a steed I can ride into battle against Asgard." Kriemhild extended a hand to Andvari. "How would you like to join me? Together we'll destroy Asgard. You'll be reliving your glory and make my mother proud."

Andvari stared over Kriemhild's hand and mulled over her offer. Learning this woman is Grímhildr's daughter turned his worldview upside down. Now, his former master's spawn has offered him a place in her Lokar rankings. He wasn't sure what to think. However, despite having been in seclusion, Andvari's loyalty remained firm with Grímhildr.

Andvari answered with a handshake and took a bow to her.

"I pledge my loyalty as if thou were Lady Grímhildr herself."

"Rise, Andvari. You are the last recruit we need... " Kriemhild then paused. "No, on second thought. We could use one more."

"One more? Who dost hast in mind?" Loki inquired.

Walking away, Kriemhild communicated with the dark forces that she has been communicating with. She looked like she was staring off into space and cupped an ear.

"What? You want me to recruit a Valkyrie? You mean that one?" Kriemhild asked the dark force.

Andvari turned to Loki. "Who is she speaking to?"

Loki sighed. "She often calls it the dark force, dark matter, and anomalous entities. I hast no clue. She is quite odd, but whenever she is communicating with this dark force, often times it hath helped her locate people she wants to find and utilize powers beyond my comprehension."

Kriemhild looked at her ring and whispered to Brynhildr's soul. "Do you hear that? We are going to recruit someone from your former Valkyrie team. Won't this be fun? And yes, I could use your help." She turned to gather Loki. "Time for us to go, Loki. Andvari, we will return here to get you once Ragnarök is near us."

Andvari slightly bowed. "As thou sayeth, Lady Kriemhild."

"Come, Loki. We're making a quick stop on Asgard."

Hearing this, Loki gulped. "A-Asgard?"

xxxxx

Outside Asgard

Another humiliating day in the life of Mist. The Shroud Valkyrie took a brief leave from Asgard to vent her frustrations. She was once again verbally insulted by Göndul and Skögul. They mocked her for her small breast size, which normally is a petty insecurity to have, but this greatly affected Mist's self-esteem. On top of that, Mist was upset that she wasn't picked to be the leader. Odin had favored Eir to lead the Valkyries.

As she fumed angrily, Mist's focus became off-kilter. She tried training in solitude, but she kept messing up. She tossed seax at blocks of wood. She hit one, but missed another.

Mist panted hard and hissed. "So, I am not good enough to be leader?! What dost Eir hast that I dost not?!" She then covered her chest, exhibiting her insecure nature. "And so what if I am not well developed like the rest of thee! I dost not need a large chest, a strong body, or a goddess-like figure to be a great Valkyrie! I am fine as I am!"

She flew over and threw another seax to knock over another block of wood.

"I must get strong. I will get strong enough to surpass thee, Eir!"

Suddenly, Mist heard a low chuckle emanate out of nowhere. This disturbance quickly alarmed the Shroud Valkyrie. She reproduced another seax in her hand.

"Who is there?! Who dares cackle at me?!" Mist hissed defensively. "Göndul?! Skögul?! Is it thee two cretins?! Or, is it thee, Eir?! Mock me all thou want! I will not be looked down on!" She threw the seax at a tree.

As Mist heard the laughter move behind her, she instinctively turned and saw nobody. Her heart pounded.

"Ok, this is not funny anymore. Come out!"

Mist walked backward and bumped into a wall. She whipped around expecting to meet a wall, but came face to face with Brynhildr. Their gazes met. Brynhildr smiled in her face.

"Hello, Mist."

"B-Brynhildr?!" She gasped and fell back as if she had seen a ghost. "B-But, thou art here?! How?! The Allfather exiled thee!"

The Blood Valkyrie chuckled. "Thou art still a hopeless child, Mist. And no, I hast been freed from being trapped in that flaming castle. Someone saved me. I wouldst like thou to meet her."

"Who is it?"

Brynhildr walked up and whispered in her ear. "Follow me." She turned and ran off into the forest.

"Wait, Brynhildr!" Mist called after her. As she raced off into the forest, the Shroud Valkyrie pursued Brynhildr. "Who is it thou want me to meet?! Can she make me strong?!"

"Perhaps, but thou need to hurry!"

"Thou art acting a little too friendlier than usual, Brynhildr," Mist noted. "Maybe the time away has changed thee for the better?"

As the chase stopped, Mist happened upon a small frozen pond. However, she lost Brynhildr completely.

"Brynhildr! Art thou here?!"

"Behind thee."

As Mist turned around, she expected Brynhildr, but instead found Kriemhild, who used Brynhildr's voice.

Kriemhild addressed her. "Expecting somebody?"

"Where is Brynhildr?"

"Right here," Kriemhild stepped aside as Brynhildr emerged from behind a large rock.

Sensing something off about Brynhildr, Mist dropped into a defensive stance. She glared over to Kriemhild.

"Drop your guard. I don't wish to fight you, Mist."

"How dost thou know my name? Did Brynhildr tell thee?"

"Of course, but then again, I don't need to as long as I have this ring," Kriemhild smirked evilly, showing off Andvaranaut.

"What is that ring?!"

"Keep an eye on the ring, sweetie," Kriemhild giggled as the ring glowed, sending a bright flash of golden light.

Finding herself entranced by the glowing ring, Mist's eyes glazed over. She seemingly fell under the ring's mystic effects. Kriemhild was able to probe Mist's mind and find out her insecurities.

"I see, your pettiest insecurities are jealousy over another Valkyrie taking the leadership reigns. You lost out to a vast majority and that eats you alive."

Mist scowled. "Stop it."

"Oh, and here's a juicy detail! You have an insecurity over your flat chest!"

The Shroud Valkyrie folded her arms around her chest area. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide her blush. Kriemhild giggled incessantly over this.

"Oh, you poor thing!" Kriemhild lowered her ring as Mist came to.

Suddenly, Mist saw Kriemhild got behind her and pat her chest, causing the Shroud Valkyrie to freak out and whip around to attack.

"Hands off!" Mist warned.

"Heheh, don't feel bad. Even with a flat chest, you're a cutie," Krimehild beamed with joy. "In fact, everything about you is adorable. That's why I want you to join me."

"Join thee? For what purpose?"

The witch's genuinely happy smile was replaced with a malevolent expression. "To wage war against and destroy Asgard."

Before Mist could protest, Brynhildr got behind Mist and held her.

"Brynhildr! Let me go! She is an enemy!"

"She can't hear you, sweet thing! In fact, that Brynhildr is but a mere reflection of the real one!"

"What dost thou mean?!"

"I mean, the real Brynhildr is dead. She has been for quite some time. Do you want to know who killed her?" The witch then pointed to herself. "Why, it was I!"

Realizing this, Mist's eyes shot open. "...no, it cannot be."

"This Brynhildr is an illusion. The real one's soul is contained in this ring. And guess what? I was able to kill another former Valkyrie and took her soul, too. I believe her name was Sigrún."

"Thou killed Sigrún, too?! Thou monster!" Mist scornfully yelled at her. "Thou art not going to get away with this!"

Kriemhild flipped locks of her hair and smirked. "That's exactly what Sigrún said just before I killed her and her entire family. Then, I flayed Sigrún before the ring absorbed her soul." She showed Andvaranaut again, revealing the ghostly spirits of Brynhildr and Sigrún screaming haunting cries.

Seeing her former colleagues crying out to her, Mist's face paled with fright. She wondered if she was going to suffer the same fate.

"But, you needn't worry about me killing you and taking your soul. No, I have a much better use for you, Mist."

"What couldst be worse than death?!"

"That you become my puppet against your will. Now watch, dear." Kriemhild laughed as she manipulated the ring's power, using it to place Mist under her control.

The Shroud Valkyrie did her best to resist the ring's power, but her will was not strong enough. She felt her mind shut down and become mind controlled. Mist's eyes turned cold and lifeless like a puppet.

"How may I serve thee, Lady Kriemhild?" Mist bowed to her.

"You are subject to my will, Mist," the witch chortled. "And with that, we have all the recruits we need. Now let us leave, you two."

xxxxx

Asgard/Valaskjálf

The Allfather spent the rest of his time in solitude and cut off from the rest of the Nine Realms. He no longer concerned himself with his people's daily lives. All he was concerned about was his own throne and the impending apocalypse in the form of Ragnarök. He knew it was coming. Based on Sága and the Norn's projections, it was drawing near. The activity of the mysterious dark matter was something else to be concerned with. The death of Baldr was the first sign of the end times.

However, despite the warnings and projections, he stubbornly dismissed all claims. He saw these as excuses to get him to relinquish his position.

For the Asgardians, it became clear as day that Asgard's glory days were gone. Now, it had descended into decadence. They saw its ruler as nothing but an outdated shell of his former self and completely out of touch with his people.

Walking away from his throne, Odin stared out his snow-covered window and observed the endless Fimbulwinter that has affected his kingdom.

Since Baldr's death, Odin was conflicted about Ragnarök. He was desperate to maintain his throne and reputation, clinging to both with an iron grip. He wanted to prevent the impending apocalypse. But, realizing Ragnarök was inevitable, Odin was shown his fate by the Norns. He was going to be killed by Fenrir despite his great efforts.

Knowing a new world would rise following Asgard's demise, Odin decided Víðarr would be his future king. The reason being? Thor was also preordained to die during Ragnarök.

"Father," Víðarr spoke up as he entered the chamber with Thor. "So, I am to be the future king?"

"Based on the events of Ragnarök, yes. Art thou ready to take the throne in my place?"

Víðarr cast his eyes to the floor. "I-I dost not know."

Thor clapped his brother's shoulder. "Raise thy head high, brother. Thou will be a great king. If I am to die, then I wouldst rather die and know thou hath become the new king of Asgard."

"Thou art to rebuild Asgard after Ragnarök, Víðarr. This is what Sigrdrífa wouldst hast wanted. A progressive-minded king for a future Asgard."

Hearing this, Víðarr smiled with tears.

Odin glanced over to a painting of a woman who bore a resemblance to Brynhildr, but unlike the Blood Valkyrie, this woman had a kindred and gentle demeanor. She had the same dark hair and golden eyes like Brynhildr. This was Brynhildr's birth mother Sigrdrífa.

"I hath taken Sigrdrífa's words to heart and allowing for progressivism to shape the new Asgard. Knowing I will die during Ragnarök, I can die peacefully knowing thee will be my successor, Víðarr. And I will spend all my time in Helheim to reflect on my tyrannical and petty sins."

Thor then changed the subject. "I dost not mean to sour on thy reflections, father, but there is still the matter of Brynhildr being freed from that castle."

Just the mere mention of the Blood Valkyrie was enough to make Odin tighten the grip on his spear. His teeth clenched. As if Baldr's death, the warnings of the 'dark outside force', and the recent news of Kriemhild and The Lokar being amassed for war were bad enough, Kriemhild and The Lokar freeing Brynhildr added more unwanted stress for the Allfather. These festering variables were becoming too much for Odin to bear.

"Yes, I realize that creature is free. No, thanks to Loki and this Kriemhild." Odin gritted and turned around. He roared and blasted his throne with a bolt from Gungnir. He grunted and snarled. "That will be Brynhildr when I see her! She hath become an enemy and a traitor to Asgard!"

"Why didst thou not kill Brynhildr? Thou hadst the chance to instead of exiling her." Víðarr asked him.

"Because I was concerned with how Asgard would respond. I didst not want to destroy the morale of the Valkyries. I picked Eir to take the leadership role. However, now that Brynhildr hath escaped and joined our enemy, we art in agreement that creature must perish. And I shalt be the one who ends her. In order for Asgard to hast a future, Brynhildr must die!"

xxxxx

Outside Asgard

On the days leading up to Ragnarök, another warning came in the form of corpse discovered by Asgardian soldiers. Freyr was also present. They found the corpse of a large swine, but not just any swine. This was golden boar that belonged to Freyr.

"Sire, dost this belong to thee?" A soldier queried to Freyr.

Examining the snow layered corpse, Freyr uncovered the giant golden-bristled boar.

"That is Gullinbursti," Freyr recognized his boar. He and the other soldiers nearly vomited from the horrific stench from the fly and maggot filled corpse.

They also noticed something carved across Gullinbursti's mouth. When Freyr examined the flayed mouth flaps, he saw it was carved outward into a Glasgow smile mark. This was a blood warning sent by the enemy. Even if they didn't know who was the culprit, but it was Kriemhild who butchered Gullinbursti in cold blood and carved his mouth open.

"Sire, look," a soldier pointed to more carvings.

There was a written message on Gullinbursti's left side. It read in blood: Am I pretty now?

"Who wouldst dost this vile act?" An Asgardian soldier asked with disgust.

"A sick-minded creature," Freyr remarked with disdain.

Just then, as their attention was on the written message, the golden boar's right leg seemingly twitched and moved. One soldier immediately noticed this.

"Everyone…!" The soldier was brushed away from a kick by the boar's leg.

As everyone turned, Gullinbursti sprang up back to life as a Proto-Draugr and roared, spewing blood and maggots from his mouth. Freyr and the soldiers took on the Proto-Draugr boar. It charged and headbutted another Asgardian soldier.

"Sire, two of our men art critically hurt!" One of the other soldiers shouted.

"Then, this must end!" Freyr declared.

Drawing out his sword, Freyr faced off with his former boar. The Proto-Draugr boar hollered a ghastly squeal and rushed at Freyr. Closing his eyes, Freyr prayed for peace for the boar and jumped out of the boar's way. He swiftly shoved his sword through Gullinbursti's head and gave him a mercy killing.

Once Gullinbursti collapsed in a heap, Freyr took this as a warning that the enemy forces are not to be taken lightly during Ragnarök.

xxxxx

Dimension: PV-18/Yggdrasil/Urðarbrunnr

After watching the events play out leading to the apocalyptic conflict, the sage stopped the visual. The group went into another recess and discussed what they've seen.

"Ok, guys. I think I've had just about enough of another zombified pig," Ann shuddered with disgust. "I feel bad for those poor things."

"Agreed, Lady Ann. Kriemhild's just plain cruel beyond words, even to animals," Morgana concurred with the model.

"And she's totally playing Loki," Futaba pointed out Kriemhild's deception toward the trickster himself. "Hell, she's been more 'Loki' than Loki himself."

"Right, he's playing second fiddle to her at this point," Makoto stated.

"That'll be bad for him, but hey he can't cry when she decides to stab him in the back," Mia shrugged.

Akechi then added his own viewpoints on the fabled trickster. "I must say, this Loki is but a fool to trust Kriemhild. He should've known better."

"Clearing you'd know what it's like being a trickster and I'm not referring to your Persona either," Ren said, remembering Crow's betrayal toward the Phantom Thieves and revealing his true colors.

The former rookie detective managed a half-hearted chuckle. "Right, I'm not fond of my past transgression. Nonetheless, this Loki is even less of a trickster than myself. I do feel for him. He gets manipulated by some dark force and indirectly kills Baldr. Once his crime was exposed, he gets exiled to a cave in another world and who's there to free him? A fiend who's more disingenuous than himself."

"Aye, I see what thou mean, but Loki was not entirely innocent. He hath committed heinous tricks on anyone he saw fit to manipulate," Haakon said.

"Even if some dark force manipulated him, he still indirectly murdered Baldr the Blessed," Eric sighed.

Skuld turned to her mother and frowned. "We hast nothing more to say regarding that heinous trickster."

"We'll have to see where their relationship goes, but they've amassed quite a number of volunteers, including the likes of Surtr and Hrym," Louis stated. "Of course, Loki had to free his sons, Jörmungandr and Fenrir, and meet his daughter, Hel."

"Since we're on the subject, did you all see the size of Jörmungandr?" Skyler asked the other Revenants and Thieves.

"That thing was huge! You mean to say that big snake is Loki's son?!" Ryuji was aghast to learn this fact.

"And his other son is that big wolf, too," Yakumo reminded him.

"And that lady with the half-grotesque body is his daughter," Haru said. "My, that is quite a unique family Loki has going."

"He also has another son. Did you know Odin's horse, Sleipnir, is Loki's other son?" Louis asked his group of friends.

"What? Did he make love with various animals or something?" Ann was equally flabbergasted and disgusted to learn this.

"Who are we to judge Loki's personal tastes?" Akechi shrugged.

"Well, it's not normal," Eva remarked.

"And we're not?" Jack referred to himself and the other Revenants' natures.

"By the way, the Jörmungandr we saw is not even the biggest he can get," Skyler said. "He can get the size of a planet. Hence why he's called the World Snake."

"Is this true?" Hifumi asked the Homo Yggr and their family.

Skuld nodded. "Yes, he couldst willfully grow and shrink his body accordingly.

"Geez, he's huge compared to all the other big snakes we've encountered," Futaba said.

"Speaking of large, what dost thou all think of Níðhöggr?" Harald asked the guests.

"Man, no comment. That thing made those Great Drekar look small in comparison," Yakumo stated.

"Dude, that thing was a freaking Kaijū!" Ryuji rebuked.

"If anything, that monster reminds me of Bahamut from Shingeki no Bahamut," Louis described on his thoughts on the monster.

"That primordial beast from Ginnungagap is the antithesis to Yggdrasil. It attacked us and the World Tree during the apocalyptic war. I'll never forgive it or those Sisters of Ginnungagap." Skuld said with a scowl.

"The Sisters of Ginnungagap? You're referring to those three women with the wolves?" Makoto asked the half-Homo Yggr Norn.

Nodding, Skuld replied. "Yes, Aglaohilde, Thelxielinde and Peisigunde. They art also known as the evil Norns. They art the counterparts to me and my Norn sisters here."

Verðandi shared her disdain for the evil Norns. "And thou all art about to see why we abhor those creatures so much!" The sudden anger in her tone startled some of the guests. She was consoled by Urðr.

Urðr whispered. "Easy, my sister. Calm thyself. Thou dost not want to release her now, do thee?"

Verðandi shamefully nodded. "I dost not want."

"Um, who's this her?" Ren asked.

Skuld interjected. "Disregard what she sayeth. Yes, they art known as the Sisters of Ginnungagap. Me and my Norn sisters are called the Sisters of Yggdrasil. We help protect and nurture the World Tree while those three seek to destroy it."

Sága then added to the conversation. "And didst thou all known the Sisters of Ginnungagap are Hel's daughters?"

"So, that means they're Loki's granddaughters?" Skyler picked up on this.

"Correct."

"Man, these family trees in mythologies are so messed up!" Ryuji's mind couldn't keep up with the outlandish lineages.

"Then, thou didst not know their father is Höðr," Skuld said.

"Isn't that the one Loki manipulated to kill Baldr?" Yusuke queried.

"Correct, and he was exiled from Asgard as a result. Loki was later apprehended and imprisoned in that cavern," Sága said.

"Baldr's death was a shock to us all, but besides Odin, none was more heartbroken than Lady Sága," Eric added.

"When it was discovered Höðr was the perpetrator, I knew something was off. It couldst not have been him. It hadst to be someone underhanded enough to pull such a cruel prank. Well, that prank ended my husband's life," Sága muttered with a tear in her eye.

"I hast since hated Loki for what he hath done for my father's death," Skuld scowled.

"I really don't think he intended to kill Baldr though," Akechi tried to defend the trickster. "That darkness manipulated him to commit those acts."

Ann sighed at him. "Look, don't even try. Nothing you say will change their minds about Loki."

Makoto frowned. "If Loki killed either Haru-chan or Louis, even indirectly, I'd never forgive him either."

Haru put an arm around Makoto. "But, that'll never happen, my Mako-chan."

Louis scoffed. "I'd never let that guy try and kill me without a fight."

Ren then addressed an important detail. "Loki hinted at some dark force manipulating him to kill Baldr. He may have been seduced to end Baldr's life." He turned to Sága and the Norns. "Did any of you sense some form of darkness starting to take shape in your world?"

Upon hearing this, Sága and her daughters briefly conversed in private.

"Yes, we hast," Skuld replied to Ren's inquisitive suggestion. "My mother even felt a sinister darkness taking root and manipulating certain individuals."

"While Loki may hast wanted to play a prank on my husband, I dost not think that was his original intention," Sága stated. "I am defending what Loki hath done, but the fact he left himself open to be manipulated by this darkness is a strong possibility. It is the same darkness I felt was going to lead to Ragnarök. I even warned Odin about this."

"And we all saw how he took the news," Skyler referred to Odin's stubborn pride.

"That old bastard didn't want to admit the writing was on the wall for his reign. That's why he chose his successor," Jack illustrated.

"Oh, and since we're on the subject of Baldr, what about those two ingrates disrespecting a man in his own funeral?" Haru referred to Göndul and Skögul's disparaging remarks about the late-Baldr.

"As if I hated those two already, they've hit my shit list," Makoto gritted.

"Yes, I don't care how much make up she puts on, I'll never consider Skögul proper and lady-like. Not in the slightest. She exposed her true colors when Sigrún beat her senseless." Haru openly gave her view about the Feminine Valkyrie.

Nearly breaking her staff with a grip, Sága calmed down. "As grateful as I am for Sigrún humbling that cretin, I wouldst hast liked to teach Skögul and her lover a lesson they wouldst never forget. They disparaged my husband. For that, I shalt never forget what they hadst sayeth."

Skuld shared her mother's disdain for them. "Yes, and as Baldr's daughter, I was ready to defend his honor! I couldst hast placed a spell on them, but mother sayeth to let fate decide their outcomes."

Urðr added. "For those who art hoping those two get their comeuppance, thou patience shalt be rewarded later."

"I think I speak for all of us, we can't wait for it," Skyler said.

"No doubt," Makoto stated.

Just then, Nadia spoke up. "I know me and Anastasia aren't natives, but seeing the Seelie and Unseelie caught my attention. I couldn't help but notice Alfheim and Asgard were not on good terms."

Anastasia added with Nadia's concern. "We've known about the bad relations, but this is the first we've seen the relations play out as if they were in real time."

"We art aware thou two art not native Elves. Thou two art created from Miss Io." Sága stated. "For a time, the Elves' relations with Asgard were so strained that Freyr was selected to rule Alfheim under Asgard's compromise. To keep the Seelie and Unseelie rulers under Asgard's iron fist, Freyr verbally abused the Elves. They were given derogatory slave names. Acting under Odin's orders, Freyr linked these slaves to Odin's magic indirectly and forced them to carry these slave names permanently with no way to remove them. As such, the Elves were stuck with these lowly slave names."

"As if I didn't already hate Asgard and its fucking Allfather, and I'm not even a native elf!" Nadia angrily confessed her disdain about Odin and his sovereignty.

"I doubt any of you know, but the Elven race as a whole are known as the Álfar," Anastasia revealed to the Thieves and Revenants. "As a Light Elf myself relating to the Seelie, their kind are known the Ljósálfar."

"And as a Dark Elf myself relating to the Unseelie, their kind are known Dökkálfar," Nadia plainly stated.

"What about those Dwarves? Are they opposed to Asgard?" Jack asked the Homo Yggr and their family.

"They art known as the Svartálfar and yes they art opposed to Odin," Skuld said. "But besides Brokkr and Eitri, they chose not to participate in the war against Asgard. The Unseelie also didst not participate."

"The Unseelie and the Dwarves dost not appear in Asgard either. Instead, they opposed the Seelie, who declined to help Asgard in Ragnarök. Instead, they opted to defend their realm from the Unseelie and the Dwarves." Harald stated.

"The Seelie, the Unseelie and the Dwarves equally despise Asgard's arrogance even more than Alfheim's own arrogance," Sága said.

"Just wait, we're going to see Odin and his kingdom get what's coming to them," Nadia conveyed her anticipated moment.

"Well, if we're being led to believe that Kriemhild's about to set it towards that direction," Ren said.

Skyler inferred. "She's freed Loki, recruited beings from the other Realms, placed Mist under the ring's spell, killed another Valkyrie & sealed her soul in that ring, and conjured a Brynhildr illusion. And there's no doubt that invisible voice she's been talking to is the Yami Matter. I want to see how the Yami Matter's influence determined the outcome of this war. Bottom line, shit's about to hit the fan."

Ryuji whistled. "Damn dude, I think you might've called it."

Yusuke asserted. "It's still unclear how the end result will be. Remember, Odin has chosen his successors. Víðarr and Eir might be deciding factors."

Futaba sighed. "I wish that were the case, Inari."

Ann sighed. "Either way, I don't like anyone's chances. Kriemhild is not someone without a back-up plan."

Louis turned to the sage. "If we can, may we proceed with the Ragnarök event?"

"Just know what you're about to witness are horrific events," Io forewarned the group.

Hifumi grasped Io's hand. "After all we've been through, we're ready."

"Then, let us witness the events of Ragnarök unfold," Sága waved her staff, preparing the group to observe the proceedings leading toward the apocalyptic event.

xxxxx

Chapter Soundtrack

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - The Gathering Storm - Sigurd climbing Hindarfjall and found the sleeping maiden.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - Caught off Guard- Brynhildr attack Sigurd till she stopped the assault. Gunnar attempted to rape Brynhildr, but the Valkyrie stopped him.
Berserk OST - 04 Guts - The first proper interaction between Brynhildr and Sigurd. Brynhildr and Sigurd's intercourse.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles OST - Berceuse (Alexia's Lullaby) - Gudrun (Kriemhild)'s theme.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles OST - Theme of Alexia Type I- Brynhildr saving Sigurd from Gudrun.
Final Fantasy VII - Trail of Blood - The song that transitions the genre from gritty Norse to absolute horror. The horrible truth of Gunnar's kingdom as already dead. Escaping the kingdom from Proto-Draugar. Gudrun tortures and kills the real Gunnar, before she burns the kingdom and the undead. Gullinbursti's corpse shocks the Asgardians as a warning, the golden boar rises as a Proto-Draugr before being quickly killed.
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles OST - Theme of Alexia Type II- Gudrun killing Grani, Sigurd and Brynhildr.
Odin Sphere Soundtrack - A Fate Accepted- Baldr's funeral.
Odin Sphere OST - Odin Sphere's Theme (Shanachie ver) - Sága and the Norns' warnings of an outside dark source (the Yami Matter), but Allfather dismisses it.
Game of Thrones Season 5 Soundtrack 03 - House of Black and White- Kriemhild frees Loki and getting acquainted. Loki tells the story of Baldr's death, while Kriemhild tells the story of her life as Gudrun alongside meeting (and killing) Brynhildr and Sigurd before gaining the ring. Both form an alliance in plans to recruit beings from other realms for Ragnarök. Unaware from the trickster god that Kriemhild is secretly manipulating behind the scenes.
Final Fantasy VIII OST - Succession of Witches - Kriemhild and Loki recruiting Surtr (and scaring him), Hrym, Brokkr & Eitri, and Byggvir & Beyla to join The Lokar for Ragnarök.
Bear McCreary - Helheim - God of War OST - Kriemhild and Loki meeting Garmr, Hel, Níðhöggr, Sköll and Hati, and the evil Norns.
Two Steps From Hell - Salvation - Kriemhild meets Andvari. Kriemhild, Loki, and 'illusion Brynhildr' recruits Fenrir (in freeing the wolf) and Jörmungandr.
Final Fantasy XV OST Volume 2 - 11. Beckoned by Darkness- Kriemhild meets and controls Mist.
Final Fantasy XV OST - Somnus - Odin's recollections of Asgard's status and his historical actions. Asgard's discussions of Ragnarök, especially Brynhildr escaping and the majority declare that the Blood Valkyrie must die no matter the cost. Víðarr and Eir will become future rulers after the apocalypse.

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A/N: Seeing that these Wulf-Edda flashbacks have already been written months prior, all I needed to write are the group's commentaries and viewpoints about the events.

As far the commentary is concerned, we do learn about the harsh relations between Asgard & Alfheim, the Sisters of Ginnungagap being Hel & Höðr's daughters, and the Revenants being compared to Draugar.

The flashbacks for this chapter are packed with lore and content.

For starters, Gudrun/Kriemhild is a reversion of a character from previous fics of mine (who was funny enough named Gudrun/Mist). Not only is this Gudrun revamped from the other I've written, but her personality was rebooted with the intent to rebuild her as a villain to take more seriously in an already gritty Wulf-Edda world. We also intended for her to be a mix of borderline horror monster with slasher tendencies and an agent of chaos. The fact, she kills off Brynhildr and Sigurd, Wulf-Edda's protagonists up until their deaths, should already give you the impression that no one is safe or sacred in the Wulf-Edda world. Not even her brother, Gunnar, was spared and was given the worst kind of torture before becoming Proto-Draugar chow. We enjoyed crafting her character and writing her parts. Although, it's funny how based on her actions, Kriemhild acts more like Loki than Loki himself.

For the record, yes, Gudrun/Kriemhild being the only character in the flashbacks to speak in modern English instead of Norse/Old English was intentional. There's a reason for why she can speak in modern English, which will be shown and explained in the next chapter. Furthermore, by speaking modern English, she stands out from the rest of the Wulf-Edda crowd like she's an otherworlder, an individual straight out of time, or an alien to a medieval setting.

Yes, we gave Brynhildr, Sigurd, and Grani rather gruesome deaths, didn't we? Not what you'd expect for your story's protagonists to out. And to make their deaths suck even worse is Kriemhild got away without so much of a scratch (though, she and Brynhildr had a bit of a tussle over the ring).

As if Kriemhild wasn't bad enough for you, not even the 'side of good' have nice people. Don't get me started on Göndul and Skögul. Disrespecting a good man at his own funeral is beyond deplorable. And then there's Odin, who despite being given a heads up on his kingdom's untimely fate, he dismisses out of pure stubbornness. Though to Odin's credit, he finally conceded and gave the throne to his son Víðarr.

A personal favorite part of these flashbacks was the sudden shift from the gritty Norse mythology tale into straight up horror. Having an entire kingdom changing into a zombie infested zone will do that. As a fan of horror myself, this was a welcoming twist for the narrative.

The recruitment segments allowed for me to explore the other Nine Realms and flesh out its inhabitants.

I also think it's safe to say what the 'dark force' Sága and the Norns are alluding to. If you don't, you haven't been paying attention to this whole story.

With that, we're almost at Ragnarök. There's more segments that explore Gudrun/Kriemhild's origins before the war commences. And we'll get more reactions from the Thieves and Revenants.

That's all for now. Consider this a quick update since I really didn't have much to write that wasn't already done several months ago. The next chapter may take a bit longer because there's more commentaries from the Thieves, Revenants, and the Wulf-Edda spirit survivors.

Until the next chapter, leave a review and see you soon.