XXXI. Ragnarök Unleashed

Adra felt numb.
Objectively speaking, it wasn't the first time she lost someone — not even the last. But it had been the first time Death had incarnated in the mortal realms, and the fact that he'd chosen to do so on a nearly Lost world, just to spend time with her, had meant something.
It probably was something that would never really leave the incarnate goddess – but she'd craved family as Harriet Potter, and while the need wasn't as keen now, she still loved all her families fiercely.

And Death – Death had become her first family, back when she'd died and learned she'd become a goddess. He was sweet, caring – and overworked. The best brother one could wish for.
It had been lovely seeing him discover the mortal realms in a way he hadn't been able to for eons – and seeing him with his twins was just adorable.
And now, he'd been forced to end his vacations, leave the family he'd created behind, and get back to work.

All because an old goddess was throwing a temper-tantrum.
Scratch that.
Adra wasn't numb, she was angry.
And it just so happened that the source of her ire wasn't that far away.

¤.¤.¤

She knew she had to act fast – before he left, Pyxis had given her a last gift, but it wouldn't last with her mortal body.
So Adra opened her eyes, golden tomoe swirling lazily in the dim light of her room at Hogwarts. With some surprise, she noted that her head was on someone's knees, and that it wasn't curtains, but wings, that protected her from the rest of the world.
Apparently – Thanatos had stayed by her side.
She sent him a grateful smile, which he answered with a simple, solemn, nod.

"Your mortals friends are fighting in New Rome." he informed her "They asked that you tell the wix who was touched by death before leaving."
Inform Dumbledore? She could do that, she agreed mentally, calling her wardrobe system, outfitting herself for war. Dumbledore wasn't surprised to see her head out for the battlefield.
Of course, she never mentioned which battlefield she was heading out to.

She came out on the outskirts of Athens.
Empousai were patrolling the streets, the roads to the Acropolis were all bared by gegeines; the air filled with griffins and ánemoi thúellai.
The air was filled with a slow, steady drumming that Adra knew to be a heart-beat.
Gigantes were assembled in the Parthenon, chanting in words and tongues she didn't know – but there was no need to understand what they were chanting to know what they were doing.

More importantly – the whole Acropolis was currently a battlefield.
Thunder was raining from the sky, cutting through the hordes of griffins and the angry storm spirits, Poseidon and Athena were fighting side by side, Ares and Hades were leading hordes of spartoi on the battleground – all the Olympians were out there, trying to stop Gaea from rising.
"Fools!" the tallest of the gigantes was laughing "What can you do against us, without your children's help?"
"Our children are already fighting their own battle." Aphrodite was the one to answer, a vision of beauty – and danger

The gigantes weren't stupid, and they were quite wisely weary of the goddess. After all, people tended to discard her, thinking that 'love' was a rather paltry domain compared to some others.
That – was forgetting that of the Olympians, she was the oldest, born from the sea and of Ouranos himself – that love was a domain just as strong as life or death or fate.
And that making the goddess of love angry was a very, very, bad idea.
Adra found herself admiring of the gods, who were fighting a battle they couldn't win – to buy time for the half-bloods to protect their home. They had faith too – that their children would win, and then find them – that together, gods and demigods, could once more come out the winner of their war against the gigantes.
What a way they had come, from those indolent rulers, hidden in their dream realms and stuck sticking to old rules long since obsolete.

¤.¤.¤

Adra could also feel the powers rising around them.
Gaea – didn't need much to wake up.
But as long as she didn't get it – the blood of a half-blood – she wouldn't raise.

[Past Life Aura Activated!
Past Life Aura Pool: 21/15 minutes]

[War Time System Enabled]

[Olympians join the battle: +10 000 WP]

[Old One (Shadow) joins the battle: +10 00 WP]

Adra landed in the middle of the gigantes, making the battle stop for an instant at the sheer audacity of just appearing in the middle of the leaders of the enemy's army.
"You know, the funny thing about being an incarnate goddess?" Adra mused, KageShin in one hand, magic and alchemy ready to answer her call in the other
The gigantes seemed to be over their surprise, and now furious at her boldness – but of course, they were all so tall that they couldn't well all rush toward her, thought it was clear they were tempted.

"All the monsters think us half-bloods. Even the gods may be fooled."
The gigas who stepped toward her was comparatively short, being only seven and a half meters tall, of course, it didn't mean he was any weaker than his tall siblings.
Like all the gigantes, he had dragon hind legs, covered in dark black scales, his oily-black hairs were decorated with a multitude of copper wires and broken cogs – he was also wearing what appeared to be a Stygian iron armor, and a gigantic sledgehammer.

"Despair little goddess!" he proclaimed as he proceeded to attempt to play wack-the-goddess with her "I am Mimas, born to slay Hephaestus!"
he didn't appear to realize that Adra was merely dodging, and was patiently letting finish his speech.
"I am the breaker of plans, the destroyer of well-oiled machines. Nothing goes right in my presence! Maps are misread, devices breaks, data is lost. The finest mind turns to mush!"
Seems it seemed like the other was done with his little presentation, Adra finally went on the offensive.

She lightly jumped on the man's weapon as he was raising it toward her once more. Her voice echoed with unnatural clarity in the middle of the busy battlefield.
"So when told about how Gaea's last children were so powerful they could only killed by a god and a half-blood together, it made me wonder, you know?" she mused
A slash.
She didn't bother to step out of the geyser of ichor, as the gigas' head fell to the ground.

[Mimas pushed back: +5000 WP]

"Since I am both god and half-blood in one body…" Mimas' body disappeared in a burst of golden dust, leaving behind a pile of broken cogs "Does it mean I can kill all of you by myself?"
Her smile was shinning with madness, making Dionysus shiver under the familiar feeling of Chaos.
Not too far, Hades was shivering too.
Because Mimas hadn't quite disappeared.
No – the gigas' soul was stuck above what was left of him, looking terrified about the fact he wasn't heading toward Tartarus to reform.

"Seems like it does." Adra nodded to herself, pushing the pile of cogs to the side like an after-thought "Just a bit of patience." she told the panicked soul "I'll take care of you in a while." her smile was back "Of all of you."
Even Zeus stepped back at that.
All twelve Olympians wisely going back to the battlefield, where there were still plenty of monsters to deal with – out of the way of the Old One and her vengeance.

[Periboa pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Hippolythos pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Clytius pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Ephialtes and Othis pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Enceladus pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Porphyrion pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Thoon pushed back: +5000 WP]

One by one, the ones raised to be the Olympians' bane were felled.
Nothing – seemed to slow Adra.
Hecate's bane was immune to magic – that's what blades were for.
Periboa's immunity to love magic – didn't make her immune to any other magic.
Athena's bane intelligence – couldn't do much against someone who was moved with pure instincts, and his fiery breath was all but useless against the girl who was part fire-spirit herself.
Porphyrion – the would be new king was arrogant, too arrogant, and no matter that he was the tallest and the strongest, it was his downfall.
As for the bane of the Moirai, looking ancient and frail hadn't spared him, quite the contrary.

¤.¤.¤

All nine of the leading gigantes were now mere souls, prisoners of the vengeful goddess.

[Forces of Gaea pushed back: +1000 WP]

The battlefield around them had been emptied by the Olympians, and they were making quick work of the remaining two dozen or so gigantes that weren't anyone's specific bane. Powerful warriors they may be – the Olympians, after nearly two thousand years taking a step away from things, had fought in their fair share of war in but a few years, and it had certainly shaken any rust there may have been in their battle prowess.
Adra's attention was wholly turned toward the still beating heart, and the rising fury she could feel.

KageShin was replaced by FuurinKiba in her right hand, and with a quick motion, she slashed through her left palm, blood dripping to the ground.
The change was instantaneous.
There was a feeling of gleeful victory, a voice crowing "Awake! At last!" and all around them, they could feel the ground shudder, the Olympian suddenly very aware that with Gaea awakened – anywhere on the ground was suddenly enemy ground.

Usually, Adra would have needed to fight the goddess to weaken her – this was the easiest way for her to make use of the Abyss Art in the mortal realms.
Usually, Gaea would be a particularly bad goddess for her to fight against – the goddess so acutely tied to Life that plants were suddenly growing faster with her every breath, new creatures coming to life with a mere thought from her, nature bending to her whims…

For Adra, who lived at a permanent disadvantage in the mortal realm as a goddess of death — this should be a really bad match.
But Pyxis had had no reason to hold back when he'd sacrificed himself.

He'd closed the doors of Thanatos.
He'd given to all the death deities he'd met during his incarnation his blessing, improving their worst ability tied to his own powers.
And of course, he'd supercharged his own little sister with enough powers for her to vent against Gaea, knowing she wouldn't take his death well.

Which is why the time limit of her Past Life Aura had been exceeded.
Why she could – no, she had to use her godly powers before Pyxis' gift faded, and the invisible path to the death realms he'd left behind closed, once more toning down her godly powers.
The ground rose in front of her, taking the shape of a beautiful, curvy woman – with an ugly look of anger on her face, one that was suddenly replaced by shock.
"You! What have you done?"

Adra smiled serenely, as if all her anger was suddenly gone.
It was obvious once she opened her mouth that such wasn't the case.
"What I've done? It's simple really. I'm doing the exact same thing as you, but far more successfully."
With a look on her face one might use speaking to a particularly slow child, she articulated "I'm throwing a fit." she raised an eyebrow at the scandalized expression the other goddess was making "What, you think you're only one allowed to?"

¤.¤.¤

"They killed and exiled my children."
"You killed my brother. The man who raised me. You orphaned his babies." a shrug "So what's the difference?"
Most mad gods Adra had encountered wouldn't have cared about such an argument.
Gaea.

Gaea did care.
Her face was far more beautiful as anger was replaced by contemplation, and deep green eyes lingered on the incarnate goddess, looking deeper – straight through Adra's current turmoil, through the heart-break and the anger.
"I'm sorry for your brother."

There was a noise that sounded a lot like someone stumbling in her back, but Adra didn't turn to look. Because now that she was calming down, she could finally feel the strange current of something more beneath the goddess' anger…
"I'm just… tired of my family tearing each other's apart."
"But killing them yourself doesn't make things better, does it?"

"I know!" she protested heatedly, eyes widening in sudden realization "I know, so why…" she was growing frantic "It's like there are two voices in my head!"
"Someone meddled with your mind." Adra concluded, her feeling confirmed
"But who could be so powerful?" a voice asked behind her – this was Hermes, she recognized
"No… It wasn't a question of power." she corrected "But of cunning, and millennia of patience…"

He'd been rather crude and not very discreet with his meddling with Apophis, probably because he hadn't had enough time.
But Gaea – Gaea, Nergal had taken his time with, whispering in her dreams while she slumbered, poisoning her mind little by little.
For over two thousand years.
And even now that she knew about it, she wasn't able to completely free herself, so well the old god had done his job. Sealing her power would be an easy solution, but – Adra frowned.

Sealing powers wasn't something that was to be done without a second thought.
Her ability to read the soul of mortals and gods alike made it rather easy for Adra to know just who had to be talked down, and who needed to be sealed.
And Gaea herself – didn't need to be sealed.
Didn't deserve something as traumatic.

Which smarted, truth be told – Adra really wanted to hold on her anger and keep on raging.
But she couldn't, not when Pyxis had sacrificed himself to carry out his duty as Death.
No – she had to stick to hes own duties, and right now, that meant helping Gaea.

¤.¤.¤

"I'll seal your powers."
Gaea nodded, ready to submit herself to anything if it meant escaping the madness she'd realized was creeping.
It made Adra sure of her decision.
"Temporarily."
The goddess' head wrenched up toward her, clearly not having expected it.

"From Ashes and Dust, back to peace and quiet."

Golden manacles humming with the Abyss Art appeared around her wrists, and immediately, all felt the earth calm down around themselves, just as if she'd been sent back to sleep.

[Gaea sealed: +10 000 WP]

"All who've felt this will assume you've been sent back to your slumber." Adra confirmed with a smile "But you won't. Your soul will go in the reincarnation circle."
The gods were whispering in her back, and the gigantes would too, if their voices could be heard.
"You'll live as a mortal, without your memories."
"You mean for the circle of reincarnation to cleanse the taint of the mind control!" Hades realized – not that Adra was surprised that it was the god of death who understood best what she was doing

"Just so." she agreed, focusing a bit more on the golden manacles, where runes from ancient languages flashed to life in dark violet and emerald green "Your restraints will start to undo themselves slowly, once you're freed from control." she said, before warning her "Though if once more you grow to go against your own domain, they won't come off."
"Good." the goddess agreed firmly, making Adra smile "Can I just ask for one thing before you send me to rebirth?"

The incarnate goddess nodded.
"Please… My children… Don't be too harsh on them, they only followed their mother's in madness out of love."
Adra tilted her head, and around her were suddenly the souls of the nine gigantes she'd just killed in battle – but also of Alcyoneus who'd been killed in the north, and Polybotes, who'd just been vanquished at Camp Jupiter.

And even a last, living one – smaller than all of his siblings, with cherry red skin covered in scars, and radiating a peaceful aura.
"The rest will face their own verdict by the Olympians." Adra said "They weren't close enough to you to claim to have been moved by love."
Gaea nodded, understanding the other goddess' judgment, and knowing she couldn't take the whole guilt on herself – some had been quite eager to fight the Olympians after all, and hadn't much of an encouragement to go to war.
With a swirl of power, Adra lowered her control of the souls around her enough that they could now talk.

"So. What shall I do with you?" she mused
It was Enceladus who answered "Please. Let us watch over our mother."
"You know I can't do that." Adra contradicted him, the gigas not looking very surprised about it
"Then let us shared her punishment, and our brother who refrained from taking part in this war can watch over us."

"It isn't a punishment." Adra contradicted lightly "But perhaps it is something you need to learn by yourselves." she turned toward the peaceful looking gigas, who was listening with some incomprehension
In a few words, she explained to him what had been discovered about his mother – and how she was going to correct it.
"Do you want to do it?" she asked – after all, while it was his family, he'd been independent enough to refuse his mother, and she had no intention of forcing him to do anything "Watch over them, like they've asked for?"

"I will." Damasen immediately agreed "Though we may not always agree, they are my family."
"Then so be it." Adra concurred with a smile
Ten pairs of golden chaos manacles, inscribed with the powers of death and magic, appeared around the wrists of ten gigantes' souls.

[Periboa sealed: +5000 WP]

[Hippolythos sealed: +5000 WP]

[Clytius sealed: +5000 WP]

[Ephialtes and Othis sealed: +5000 WP]

[Enceladus sealed: +5000 WP]

[Porphyrion sealed: +5000 WP]

[Thoonsealed: +5000 WP]

[Polybotessealed: +5000 WP]

[Alcyoneussealed: +5000 WP]

[Mimas sealed: +5000 WP]

[Ally gained (Damasen): +5000 WP]

The wave of power that curled around the last gigas was far different, and it was changing the gigas in some indefinite yet undeniable way.
On top of the peaceful aura that clearly denoted his main godly domain as Peace, there was now the familiar and unmistakable feeling of Chaos around him.
Damasen's eyes widened, as emerald green words appeared under his eyes.

[Moon Pantheon updated!
Damasen (LV MAX, Peace/Chaos) is now a Second Circle Deity of the Moon Pantheon]

The stunned gigas bowed in gratitude toward her, then asked "May we say goodbye?"
Adra nodded.
It would be a long time after all, before the family was reunited.

¤.¤.¤

The gigantes all crowded around Gaea – then the goddess stepped back firmly and sent a thankful nod to Adra.
With a last tug on her powers, Adra sent the eleven souls toward Kur, where then directly went into the reincarnation system. Damasen left, but not before Adra promised him to meet later to help him learn about his new powers. Then, letting go of her Past Life Aura, she turned toward the Olympians with a sheepish grin "Sorry. I needed to vent."

[War Time System shutting down!]

[Total WP earned: 126 000]

[Life Quest Complete! Gears of Fate!
Goal Complete:
end the Gigantomachy
Reward: +100 XP, +1 atavism perk per 100 000 WP, +1 shape-shifting mutation per 50 000 WP, +5 CP per 25 000 WP]

[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Hidden Goal Complete: find and counter Nergal's plot with Gaea
Hidden Reward: +400 XP, A Mother's Love perk unlocked]

[New Perk unlocked
-
A Mother's Love(8PP): +10 to charisma, intuition, and shield

Available: 86PP]

[Level up! You are now LEVEL MAX!
+2 CP, +1 PP1SP]

Her smile was brittle once more by now, and she dismissed the plethora of notifications without even reading them. Dionysus barely realized he'd slipped into his Denys form as he stepped forward, wrapping her in a hug "Of course, little Shadow. What you need is a good feast, a good cry, and a good sleep now." he said in a no-nonsense tone that made her laugh "And it just so happens that there is a feast going on in New Rome right now! What do you say? Shall we hijack the party and announce to them that the Gigantomachy is over?"
Zeus would have never tolerated anyone seemingly making decisions in his place, a few years ago.

Right now, this Zeus had grown up, and realized that the rest of his pantheon taking charges on some topics occasionally didn't make any less of a leader out of him.
And like all the Olympians, he had heard the prayers and uncertainties, as their children went to battle once more, felt the half-bloods who'd left his realm for that of his brother.
"To the feast it is." he agreed, his chariot reappearing not too far

Taking their cue from him, all the other gods made their own chariots appear – one drawn by gigantic peacocks for Hera, Ares had fiery horses, what appeared to be a sibling of the Cerberus was harnessed with shadows to Hades' chariot…
And of course, Dionysus had tigers.
"Oh! It's been a while since we've last made an entrance!" he commented jubilantly, while gallantly helping the distraught incarnate goddess aboard "Go daddy!"


¤.¤.¤


The clan didn't need to wonder about Adra's whereabouts very long.
All had felt the surge of power that coursed through the air – and suddenly, torches burst alight around the field of Mars – and from the sky, a dozen of chariots appeared, and with them, all of the Olympians.
Adra with them.

"Only you, bambina," Carter laughed "can wake up from a nap and single-handedly finish a war."
With that, the celebration redoubled, and lasted long into the night. Sometime during the night, Adra and Carter were rather amused to see Bianca disappear with Remus.
"About time." the god of life rolled his eyes "I though they would never take the leap. They've been dancing around each other's for years!"
By the time the feast was winding down in Camp Jupiter – the gods had dragged both Adra and Carter back to Olympus, along with the Egyptians gods in attendance.

Soon, the god of life was surrounded by giggling hordes of nymphs – he hadn't been back in Olympus in a while, and apparently the Wild affinity they'd gained during the Wild Hunt had had untold effects on him.
Namely, making him quite attractive to all kinds of nature spirits…
he sent her a fake betrayed look – she could clearly feel his amusement at the situation over their bond – and was soon a puddle of goo under their ministrations. There was no age limitations for massages after all, like one rather vocal nymph had told him. The incarnate god was rather thankful his mortal family had long since headed home – his sisters would have held the scene as blackmail material for years to come.

Adra too enjoyed the festivities – and didn't wake any more alone than Carter had, though her night had been less innocent.
It was their last day of fun for the foreseeable future.
The next morning, Adra was back at Hogwarts.

¤.¤.¤

With Pyxis dead, Sirius was now the Head of the Black family, while Adra was the one in charge of the magical inheritance of said family. There were heaps of paperwork to be done to organize the change of family head, a funeral to organize, no matter that there was no body to burn nor bury.
And of course, the wixen war was far from over.
The Death Eaters were growing stronger – and it took some time before the gods among the fighting forces realized what was going on.

"Are there no limits to the depravities of this god?" Leifr wondered with a sneer "This… abomination he's inflicted on these wixen is no blessing, it's a curse!"
And a curse it was, indeed.
While the Death Eaters were now stronger magically and physically, making them far more difficult to confront by regular hitwixen and aurors – the price they had paid for this power was terrible, and they didn't even seem to realize it.
"He's gotten them addicted to their own life-force."

It was in this rather tense and somber atmosphere that the end of what would have been Adra's seventh year came.
She completed the theoretical and practical work for the masteries she'd been aiming for, Cornelius Fudge now the proud first owner of magical auto-mail.
The minister had been rather impressive; because while the magical version wasn't quite as harsh and painful to get used to, the first installation of the port connective the nerves to the new limb was still quite painful, and he did have to go through nearly three months of rehabilitation to get back his full range of movements with his new arm.

It had been at the beginning of the summer that the ministry in exile had finally be ready to start to strike back against Voldemort and his troupes.
After months of planning, training, and preparation – it was time to take the ministry back.
Adra and Bianca would play bait, as they were undoubtedly the two people in the world he wanted gone the most.
So, they headed a task-force of two dozen wixen half-bloods, and started to hit one house after the other of the identified and suspected Death Eaters.
It was tiring work, but rather satisfying, even if it was rather clear that most of the wixen they managed to arrest were simply low-level grunts.

[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Bonus Goal Updated: raid Death Eaters homes (9/?)
BonusReward: 9*200 XP, 9*1PP]

It took three days, and nine houses for Voldemort to finally react, and launch his own counterattack as they arrived at the tenth house. Anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards were raised, and just as the strike team started their assault, the dark lord, a dozen Death Eaters, and hordes of uridimmu.
"Well," Adra mused "that's new."
"Uridimmu were our local variety of hellhounds back in the days." Bianca explained
They were just as big as regular hellhounds, thought leaner as they clearly resembled so sort of hellish wolf hound, so thin their bones were apparent, with miasma foaming in their maw and blood-read gleaming eyes.
All in all – it really wasn't surprising to learn those were monsters coming from an underworld.

¤.¤.¤

Still, since Voldemort had finally taken the bait – it would be rude not to play.
So while a signal was sent to the task forces waiting to attack the ministry, a daughter of Hecate and her brother discreetly started to take back control over the wards, while the rest of the team split between fighting the Death Eaters and the monsters.
The enhanced Death Eaters, with the curse-like blessing from Nergal, had increased magical powers, which not only made their spells more dangerous, but also allowed them to cast longer before lacking magic – not to mention the enhanced body.

Thankfully, they had the very same problem Voldemort and Nergal had, and hadn't yet realized…
They hadn't mastered the way their body had changed.
Against regular wixen, those changed did make them dangerous.
Against seasoned half-bloods, who'd learn how to use their body just as much as their powers since childhood, it was a different story.

Seeing the number of opponents they were facing – Adra sent her familiar to assist against the uridimmu.
As for Bianca and her – they turned toward Voldemort/Nergal.
The two personalities were torn about whom to go after first – but both were in perfect agreement in their desire to kill them.
The fight that followed was fast-paced and quite dangerous. Soon, Voldemort, who cared far less about his surrounding than Adra and Bianca did, had destroyed the Carrow's old manor.

The ground shook around them, and both goddesses could feel two of the half-bloods fighting with them die as the stone walls crumbled around them.
The Death Eaters – hadn't fared any better, and there were only four of them were left now, who were discovering that the anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards had been turned around on them.
Where the Death Eaters we soon disadvantaged by their over reliance on magic in a fight – Voldemort was far better. Good enough that there seemed to be no limit to his magic reserves, as he sent killing and torture curses one after the other as if they were no more taxing than first year charms.

[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Goal Complete: take the ministry back
Reward: +100 XP, The Power of State perk unlocked]

[New Perk unlocked
-
The Power of State(4PP):unlocks politic knowledge skill

Available: 63PP]

There must have been some sort of alarm – as suddenly, Voldemort's attention was taken from the fight, and he let an inarticulate scream of rage, before turning back toward them.
"You!" he realized "You were a distraction!"
"One you were too dumb to resist." Bianca agreed with a smirk
The incarnate god disappeared in the shadows – or rather tried to.
Adra smiled.
"You didn't think it was going to be that easy?"

¤.¤.¤

Because while they'd agreed to the ministry's plan, they'd also made a few of their own.
Both goddesses were all for dealing with Voldemort once and for all, and between the two of them, they honestly thought they would manage.
The problem was Nergal.
Preventing Nergal from just sneaking away, like the slippery and treacherous bastard he was, and hiding away once more. Something they'd rather avoid, given that they hadn't found his current dream realm – though they knew it must exist, between the number of monsters he was able to create, and the fact that his powers weren't burning out Voldemort's body, it was rather evident…

And with how long it had taken Bianca to find Kur despite having Ereshkigal, who'd been the creator and original owner of the dream realm, right by her side…
Well, the year 1997 was half-way done, the world could still be doomed before the start of the year 2000, so they really didn't have the time to play hide and seek with the old god again.
Which meant finding his realm.
And since the regular searching methods hadn't worked, it was time to try something new.

Anger taking over rationality, Voldemort went back to the fight – but Adra knew that he'd realize in due time that she was expanding much of her focus on shunting the shadows away from him; and once he did, he would realize he could simply break through the wards and disaparate.
He was more than strong enough to do it after all, contrarily to his Death Eaters.
But no matter how frustrating it was to just let him go once more – Adra knew that it was the last time.

After all – she may have dodged into the way of an uridimmu, earning a nasty bite right in the middle rift, to avoid an avada kedavra, and Bianca's left leg may be standing at an odd angle that all but confirmed her ankle was badly broken…
It didn't really matter, their objective in battle had been met.

Voldemort was bleeding too, red blood gleaming faintly golden bearing witness to the fact he was possessed by a god – and more importantly, both had seen Penny, a daughter of Apollo and their team's healer, discretely accio a phial of blood dripping from the dark lord's shoulder.
Adra laughed as the dark lord finally realized what she was doing, lashing out one last with a fiery whip that did leave a bleeding wound, even if the fire itself didn't do much to her.

[Life Quest Updated! The Girl Who Lived!
Hidden Goal Complete: take the ministry back
Hidden Reward: +400 XP, Blood of Your Enemy perk unlocked]

[Hunt Complete: Uridimmu (LV80)!
Reward: +100 XP, unlocks Uridimmu's Fangs, Uridimmu's Eyes and Uridimmu's Maw Perks]

[New Perk unlocked
-
Blood of Your Enemy(4PP):+10 blood
-
Uridimmu's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Blood
-
Uridimmu's Eyes (2PP):+5 to intimidation and discretion
-
Uridimmu's Maw (10PP): grant the ability to steal the magic of an enemy and covert it to health points (upkeep: 10MP/attack, conversion rate: 10MP/1HP)

Available: 63PP]

She couldn't help it – between that particular perk name, not to mention the fact that thanks to the blood gathered by Penny, and the fact that the ministry had been taken back, they had just made one large step toward the end of the war.
The feast, that night, was nearly as upbeat as any Greek or Roman one – if not quite as depraved.
The day was historic for the wixen – for the task force who'd taken back the ministry had done so side by side with some goblins, their king among them, and they were even now enjoying the food and the drinks among the wixen and half-bloods.

"What a legacy, your brother has left." Dumbledore mused as he eyed the feast with her
She smiled happily, as she realized that the wizard was right – even for those who didn't know Pyxis as the incarnate god he'd been, nor loved him like his family had – they would remember him as the one Black who led them back to the Grey political party, and proceeded to tear through all the outdated and stupid laws, right by his werewolf best friend and seer ally's side.


¤.¤.¤


The months since Magnus and Samirah had retrieved Blitzen from Álfheimr, and kidnapped Andiron and Hearthstone, taking Revna and Inge for the ride, had gone by quickly.
Then at the beginning of May, in a mere twenty-four hours, the Gigantomachy had officially started – and officially ended.
And Pyxis had died.
That particularly had hit the Potter-Chase-Al'Abbas household hard – it was one thing to know that the life of half-bloods was dangerous, but to learn that even one of the gods among them could die in the process of saving them…

Well, it was rather messianic for a god of death, Samirah had been the one to point-out.
And it was surprisingly soothing, to know that when they die, they'd be able to see him again one day, and that he wouldn't forget them like mortal souls die after reincarnation.
But while they hadn't taken part in the Gigantomachy, the Norse half-bloods hadn't been idle.

Magnus had prayed to his father, telling him all a bout Alfheim, and how unsettling he'd found the place to be.
He'd received one of his father's very rare visits in answer – Magnus message had made him realize that with things changing all around Midgard, it may well be time for him to take his duties more seriously once again, starting with Alfheim.
The god had spent a few afternoons with the half-bloods, the elves and the hulders, asking them about the realm he'd deserted for so long. Needless to say, he wasn't happy about the direction the elves had taken their land in – while free-will was important, he really hadn't expected to see the specie he'd created, so nature loving as they were, evolve like they had.

He'd decided to take a few trips there to get a better hold of the situation, Revna and Inge, but also Andiron and Hearthstone offering to go with him.
In the end – the two young elves had been disguised, and they'd made a few trips out of it.
It was during one of these trips that they'd met the hulders freed from Andiron and Hearthstone's family, among which Frey had soon found a middle-aged deer hulder to give his blessing to.
Then, on another trip, they met one of the 'strange' elves, like Andiron called them with evident fondness – Tansy Wild had been promptly blessed too.
It was only a start, of course – but sometime, Frey explained to them, a first impulsion was all that mortals needed to do things right.

¤.¤.¤

Then Alys had dropped by, stumbling between countries using the same pathways that could lead between realms, and excitedly explaining that there was fighting going on in his – it was a boy day – godly sister's realm, and they just had to go and see!
Like often when it came to the younger half-blood, Magnus found himself somehow convinced, despite not liking to fight, earning one more round of teasing from Samirah.

Blitzen, Andiron and Hearthstone, who'd been there when Alys had arrived, had immediately decided that it sounded fun, Inge had made doe eyes at Revna – and the hulder had relented, not without reminding them that she'd be going too – to supervise.
They headed to the cold room in the basement – because, of course, you needed somewhere dark and cold to find your way to Helheim. Not only cold, or you could end in Niflheim, and not only dark, as it was a good way to end in Nidavellir.

Truth be told, Magnus was rather surprised – Helheim wasn't as dreary as he'd feared, thought the sky was grey and overcast and the weather rather cold. It was a good thing that Frey had managed to give the two young elves with them a blessing, which meant that they didn't need sun quite as direly as regular elves did.
Andiron and Hearthstone would always feel better, and be stronger under the sunlight – but lack of it wouldn't weaken them to the point of death like it could for regular elves.
It was – at least one less thing to worry about.

And the Norse half-blood just knew there were going to be things to worry about.
The new notification blinking in front of Samirah, Alys' and his eyes all but ensured it…

[Life Quest updated! Ragnarök Revival
Bonus Goal Complete: find Naglfar
Bonus Reward: +100 XP, A Seaman's Song perk unlocked]

[New Perk unlocked
-
A Seaman's Song(5PP):unlocks navigation skill

Available: 55PP (Magnus: 28 PP / Samirah: 32 PP / Alys: 37 PP)]

"Wow," Samirah whistled "when you said sister's realm was under attack, I didn't expect it to be that bad!"
She wasn't wrong – Magnus had expected a few skirmishes or maybe even an ongoing tournament, but nothing more.
Instead, they had stumbled into war.

¤.¤.¤

Helheim's looked rather like the old Norse villages looked in history books and museums – and while it wasn't hotel Valhalla, and it's luxury suit-rooms and 24H a day activities, it still didn't look that bad of a place to spend your afterlife in, as long as you didn't mind bad weather and a simple life-style.
But right now, the inhabitants were all fighting against hordes of Jötunn and draugr, all pouring out from a gigantic viking longship. Gigantic, as in as it made an aircraft carrier seem like a rowboat.

And the citizens of Helheim really weren't ready to fight anything – which wasn't that surprising, they weren't einherjar after all, merely regular souls living they death before going back to the reincarnation circle.
Regular blokes armed with forks, bats and the random sword here and there didn't make for a very good army against giants and zombies.

"We have to help!" Andiron bravely said
"They're already dead, kid." Blitzen pointed out reasonably
"Doesn't mean they can't suffer, does it?" Alys couldn't help but retort
Magnus – knew that Blitzen was right; risking your life for people who'd already died may be wasn't the smartest thing to do – but the problem was that just like Alys had said, he knew enough gods of death to know that the dead too could suffer.

"We need a plan." he heard himself say
Alys sent him a warm smile, that like always made something tickle warmly in his guts.

The group eyed warily the battled field.
Then Blitzen's eyes widened, going from one thing to another only him could see "There's a forge! I can make something!"
"Weapons?" Alys asked

"Nah!" Blitz waved the idea away is if it was a bad smell "Look at them, they know how to defend themselves, but not really how to fight, just like me." a shrug "So I just have to make something to fight instead of them!"
Revna was eyeing the bushes she could see here and there around the place.
"It won't last, but I can make the plants fight for a while." she mused "But what's really needed is people who can fight."

"Yeah, I thought Hel would be there?" Samirah pointed out, looking at her half-brother with a measure of wariness – contrarily to her, Alys had inherited Loki's silver-tongue
"I didn't say she would be there." the younger teen protested with an angelical smile "Only that there was fighting, and it looked interesting!"
"Don't tell me…" Samirah raised her eyes toward the sky with a sigh "You dragged us here because of a demigod dream, didn't you?"
"Well, I had to! Look at them, they need help!"

"Then you should have told dad, or someone else!" Samirah protested, before giving up before the puppy eyes the other was giving her "Alright, alright. I can probably change into something big and dangerous, you should find Garm, our godly sister, and any reinforcement you can."
"But you can track better!" Alys protested
"I can." Samirah agreed "But I'm also to take bigger and stronger forms. You'll have to do it this time."

Alys gulped.
While he wasn't stranger to battle, not having grown up with the clan – he also never had gone on any quest, contrarily to the others – and as whimsical as his personality was, as the child who'd inherited the most from their parent, Alys knew to be serious when faced with responsibilities.
This – he- realized was it. The first time fate was calling – he eyed the gigantic ship, made of human nails…
Naglfar.
And what a calling it was!

The half-blood slipped into the form of a large wolf, and nose in the air, ran from the battlefield, just like he'd been told to.
"Well." Magnus mused, Jack jumping in his hands "We'll just have to hold until he's back."
Samirah nodded, and her shape started to blur. Her mastery of shape-shifting was different from Alys, while her half-sibling could take about any shape with but a thought, he was more at ease with those shapes that were closer to him either in size or shape.

Samirah took longer to change. But she could go – as tiny or gigantic as she could think.
Half a minute later – instead of the coffee-skinned Valkyrie, there was a gigantic black dog, as big as a Mack truck, with a thick black coat able to protect her from the cold just as well as from attacks, gleaming fangs as long as Magnus' arms. Her eyes were still her own, a warm reddish mixed with golden speckled.

[War Time System enabled!]

She let out a long barking call, and stepped on the battlefield, Magnus hitching a ride on one paw.
Blitzen eyed Revna – and recognized easily the call of battle in her eyes.
"Go ahead." he nodded "I'm sure the kids will be able to help me with the forge."
Inge nodded enthusiastically – though she was the one who'd taken the least to tinkering, she didn't lack good will. Revna nodded shorting, then black wings spread – and she was gone.

[Samirah Al Abbas (half-blood Valkyrie) enters the battlefield: +1000 WP]

[Magnus Chase (half-blood) enters the battlefield: +1000 WP]

[Revna Black Wing (nature spirit) enters the battlefield: +1000 WP]

"Well kids," he smiled, amused as like always, Andiron frowned at the word "let's get down to business too, right."
Three smiles answered him.
Andiron – had hundreds of icy needles floating lazily around him, and the dwarf didn't doubt the child, no matter that he was the youngest among them, would know to use them if needed.
Hearthstone runes were already glowing in his fingers.
Really, Blitzen mused – there had to have been some sort of reincarnation misstep for those tow not to be half-bloods!

¤.¤.¤

Blitzen found himself rather impressed as he made his way around the village – he needed a few things before going to the forge.
And with his arms full, dodging the attacks would have been – doable, but annoying.
There was no need to bother.
Andiron's ice needle were quite deadly against the draugr that were making their way through the village.
As for the giants – the sudden curtain of thunder and lightning called by a rather powerful thurisaz was slowing them down effectively, thought it was evident it wouldn't last long – Hearthstone was self-taught after all, so he'd only learned the faster, yet more dangerous method of using runes.

Something that had changed in the past few months – but right now, he didn't have charged rune stones like Luna always had on her, so he was stuck powering them on his own.
The dwarf eyed the shape that was starting to look more like something – and less like a pile of old shovels, pitchforks and melted kitchenware – runes – that was an idea…
Inge was helping him rather diligently – while she didn't have the spark of creativity to create new things at the forge, she seemed to always knew what he was reaching for or was soon going to need, which was rather impressive.

Little by little – or rather stunningly quick, Blitzen was a dwarf after all – an iron creature started to rise in the forge.
The base material wasn't that good, so it probably wouldn't last that long – or that would have been the case.
Without Hearthstone.
The boy let out a silent surprised yelp as Blitzen dragged him toward the work area "Here." he said, signing at the same time

The elf gave him a rather expressive interrogative look while turning the warm but not piping hot iron piece in his hands.
"That's the last part." Blitzen said and signed, pointing where it went in the still automaton "That's what going to bring it alive."
Hearthstone nodded, impressed, but still not quite seeing where the other was going. Until he was handed engraving tools.
"With my skill, it will help, but it won't last." a smile "With your help, it will be unbeatable."

Hearthstone smiled – and eyed the heart of the mechanical creature a bit more, now in deep thought.
Then after a while, he grabbed the chisel, and went to work.
As he was about done, Inge had said, her voice both shy yet more self-assured than she usually was "Wait! I can help too!"

Blitzen should have been wary – the young hulder wasn't really that good at tinkering after – but there was a green aura around her hands, and suddenly, he knew what she wanted to do. Wild magic – the kind hulder could only do when they were free.
It shouldn't work on an artificial creature like his automaton – except that with the runes engraved by Hearthstone, his automaton already wasn't quite only mechanical anymore.
So, he nodded, and the little cow spirit took the heart in her hands, closed her eyes, and poured her magic in it – by the end of it, the piece in her hands wasn't made from iron anymore, but a light green crystal engraved with golden runes.

Hearthstone carefully set the heart in the automaton's body. There was the sound of cogs turning, a hum of magic, mechanical eyes lit up in a preternatural lime-green glow – and a body made from chain-links, tough yet flexible, took its first step, clearly alive.
The dog sat on its hind leg, head tilted in a rather typical canine fashion – waiting for orders. He was also as tall as the forge he'd been created in.

Hearthstone signed something, making both Inge and Blitzen nod – and the dwarf turned toward the living automaton…
"You are Ásmundr." he told it "And you were made to protect!"
There was a bark which echoed with a faintly metallic sound – then the dog-automaton was joining the fight.

[Ásmundr (living-automaton) enters the battlefield: +5000 WP]

Blitzen let himself fall on a nearby bench, eyeing the silhouette of their creation with awe in his eyes.
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to create anything better." he said with reverence in his voice

¤.¤.¤

Alys was running.
He hadn't expected that there would be some monsters who'd managed to get further away from the coast-line – but there were, and apparently, even as a grey wolf, he still carried the scent of a half-blood.
Thankfully, draugr weren't that fast, so those he had outrun easily.

No, the problem was the other wolves – the ones with icy blue coats and claws that inflicted wounds so cold they burned.
Alys hadn't had any time to change back, so fast had they caught up with him. Those were bigger, stronger, and faster than him, and the young teen knew he had to win this fight.
He pushed his fear to the side – now really wasn't the time for it – and eyed the pack around him, trying to find how to get out of the current situation.
His eyes stopped on the biggest of the blue wolves – his coat was darker, and he was half a step ahead of the others.

Wolves.
Pack.

This was the alpha, he realized. He only really needed one victory, after all – because if he won against the alpha – then he'd be the new leader of the pack.
So, Alys barked his challenge, and the other snarled angrily in answer. The rest of the pack stepped back, settling in a circle around the both of them.
The minutes stretched on, Alys and the alpha wolf turning time to attack and dodge, the half-blood somehow managing to resist, though he'd earn several more scratches from the other's dangerous' claws.
He knew that ever passing moment was playing against him.

He needed – something, anything, to take the advantage over the wolf – but turning back to his human form would be foolish, as it would only lead to the rest of the pack attacking. No, he had to stay in his wolf shape – but nothing said he couldn't use other abilities, those wolves did use ice magic after all.
Magic – this was what he needed, Alys realized.

Except, of course, while he did inherit seidr from his mother enough that he'd been enrolled at Hogwarts as soon as it started accepting children aged five to ten for a primary education – he'd trained as a human.
Using magic in another shape – it wasn't impossible, but it took time and training to learn – and he didn't have either right now.
He also didn't have any other option.

So focused was he on his magic, that he could feel inside his body but didn't know how to bring out – he nearly didn't dodge the next attack in time, feeling the wide maw of the ice wolf clap right by his ears. But at the last moment – he finally felt the spark – and jumped toward the other wolf, his smaller size helping him in that his fans were in easy reach of the other's throat.

The other dodged – right into his claws, realizing too late that there were now two wolves in front of him – or rather one wolf, and an illusion of him.
Blood sprayed from the wound.
The blue wolf disappeared in a swirl of snowflakes.
Alys howled his victory.

[New allies gained (issúlfr pack): +1000 WP]

Then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind "Well done, little brother."
Alys hipped his greeting, amicably nuzzling the gigantic wolf that had appeared just as he finished his fight – Fenris must have been here for a while, but he couldn't interrupt the fight – not as long as Alys nor the ice wolf had thrown the challenge.
"But what are you doing here?" his godly sibling wondered

"Naglfar is on the coast-line!" Alys explained urgently "There's Magnus and Samirah fighting! And also their friends! I was looking for Garm!"
After that, Fenris had quickly pointed him in the right direction – while the great wolf himself was heading toward the coastline.
Alys started to run again.

¤.¤.¤

Fighting against the thousands of draugr and hundreds of giants pouring from Naglfar was like fighting against a flood – you could deflect some of the damage, but you couldn't really win against it.
Except if you were a son of a water god, maybe.
Magnus wasn't Percy – he couldn't make the nearby sea-side turn against the enemies.

But there wasn't any choice.
Still – Jack and him made a surprisingly good team, even if the sword still spoke far too much in his opinion.
Samirah was quite impressive – as a half-blood, she was honestly far more suited to battle than him. In a gigantic form eerily similar to that of Garm, she was plowing though the battlefield, able to fend off half a dozen of Jötunn with one swipe of her paw, stepping on draugr like a kid would trample toy soldiers.
Revna was no less impressive. She'd started by flying from one bush to another – and soon, the Wild magic was propagating, and the army of Naglfar certainly hadn't expected for the very plants to turn against them. And beyond her magic – Revna herself was quite impressive, the woman having turned into a giant black raven, who could grab several undead in her claws, and took great pleasure in hurling them from the sky, against rocks, or the sea, and even using them as projectiles against Naglfar.

Still, as surprisingly well as they were holding – Magnus knew that he wouldn't last. Thankfully, that was when Blitzen, Inge and Hearthstone creation had joined the fray.
And Ásmundr may not be as tall as Samirah's current form – there was no denying the living-automaton's skills and power. The trio really had created a masterpiece.
The worst was – they didn't even know why Naglfar was attacking Helheim!

"That's because in the old prophecies, Hel was supposed to allow us to be used as troupes for the ship." a nearby soul explained "But she was never one to bow to fate, and she had discarded the idea of using us as cannon fodder long before the Nornes undid the tapestry."
"Uh. But since Hrym and Surtr are both intent on still making Ragnarök happen, they still tried to make use of you?" the half-blood guessed

"They did." the man agreed – he was one of the few souls who knew how to fight, a legacy of Thor who'd had a rather peaceful life and died in his bed, but was interested enough in his origins that he'd participated in multiple medieval fair when alive "Our goddess refused them quite firmly." he looked around "Honestly, it's rather surprising she isn't here, she must have felt the ship breaking through the realm."
"Or… She's already kept busy elsewhere." Magnus realized, eyes wide

After all – Hrym was there – but he hadn't seen Surtr, or any fire or storm giants, nor Babi, though he knew the Egyptian had chosen to side with the Jötnar.
"How dumb to try to start Ragnarök by attacking the dead." the man by his side couldn't help but comment
"They're trying to make Ragnarök happen despite the Nornes saying the prophecy was moot." Magnus pointed out "I think it's safe to say they are dumb."
Still – if Hel was under attack too, it may well mean that they wouldn't get reinforcement that easily, the half-blood realized, feeling a bit worried…
Just they, as if to gainsay his worry – a powerful howl was heard.

[Fenris (god) enters the battlefield: +10 000WP]

He smiled – now he knew for sure.
They would hold.

Clearly – the enemies hadn't expected the wolf-god – and even less to see him fight against them.
It wasn't that long after – that Garm appeared too, finally letting Samirah turn back to her regular form, and filch some food laced with ambrosia from her Inventory. The wolf and dog god were clearly used to fighting together, which didn't really surprise Magnus — while Fenris had come a long way from the skittish godling who didn't give his trust easily, he'd been when the half-blood was a child – the son of Loki still favored his wolf form, and Helheim was a perfect playing ground for him, and Garm, a perfect playing mate.

[Garm (god) enters the battlefield: +10 000WP]

¤.¤.¤

Finding Garm had been rather easy, now that Alys had an escort of ice wolves around him.
Just like Fenris, the god had immediately headed toward the coast-line – and sent the half-blood further north.
Toward Hel.
And toward the land border between Helheim and Niflheim.

The cold was growing stronger, and even his fur coat wasn't enough to protect him anymore – focusing on his magic like he had in his fight against the alpha wolf, Alys tried to use it to warm him. Instead, he felt himself shift – growing taller, and stronger. The cold, now comfortable and familiar.
He heard the startled, yet approving yips around him.
Apparently – he'd just changed into an issúlfr.

If the situation hadn't been as dire as it was – the son of Loki would be gloating as it was the first time he was able to change into a mythological creature rather than a regular beast. And turning directly from one shape to the other, without going back to his base shape, not even Samirah had managed that yet!
As they went further north, the monsters they were encountering were now arriving from further up north, rather than from the coast-line where Alys had left his friends.
He was starting to realize – that he may well be heading for another battlefield.

There were fire and storm giants, and a multitude of other monsters, all led by a tall, dark Jötnar, with skin darker than ink skid at midnight, oil-black hair immaculately brushed back, and a face inhumanly beautiful.
His armored was tailored like a three-pieces suit made from chain-mail, and his sword was made from pure flames.
This, Alys realized with dread, was Surtr.

The barrier between realms was still, barely, holding out, some cracks here and there letting monsters slip by from time to time, promptly obliterated by Hel and an army of souls around her.
So, this was where the dead who knew how to fight were, he realized.
This wasn't good.
Hel – couldn't hold out against a whole army alone, not even with the men she'd gathered.
Not to mention the fact that Naglfar wasn't too far either.

Well – Hel…
Wasn't quite alone, Alys realized, rather surprise to notice there was another god by her side, with long brown hair and light blue eyes. A god he'd never seen, but who strongly reminded her of someone…
His eyes widened, as he realized what he was seeing.

Just like Alys himself, whether he was boy or girl, took so strongly after their mother that no one could mistake the identity of their godly parent
This could only be a son of Woden. Or rather Odin.
And this clearly wasn't Thor.
The half-blood stepped forward, seamlessly turning back to his regular form. Or rather her form, as apparent she'd changed during her shape-shifting – talk about a day of firsts, she'd never changed midday.

"Sister." she called
Hel was mildly surprised to see her — she'd felt her arrival, of course, but didn't know why she was here.
"I've left Magnus and Samirah on a battlefield against the forces massed on Naglfar." she explained
Hel exchanged a startled glance with the god by her side. Clearly, Surtr had been sowing enough trouble here for the goddess to miss the other attack – which probably had been the plan.
"Don't you think it's time to call for help from our family?" Alys pointed out, glancing toward the god by her side pointedly "All our family?"

¤.¤.¤

"Since when did they ever care about Helheim?" Hel retorted with bitterness
"And they won't as long as you keep the doors closed." Alys answered back "But they'll never say no to a fight, even without a prophecy. Give them a chance to learn to care."
Hel was giving in, Alys realized – it was only hurt rather than rancor that was preventing her from making the last step.

"The Greeks and Romans have reunited." Alys reminded her "Set finally reconciled with his family. Our own father has long since forgiven…" a smile "And clearly, you don't hate all the Aesir and Vanir." she teased "So please, sister." she pleaded
Hel glanced at the other god once more. He answered with a warm smile, and nodded encouragingly.
"It's time, love."

Alys could nearly hear the noise of breaking crystal when Hel relented, and finally took down the barriers that had kept the Norse gods away from her domain for so long.
The result was instantaneous – Surtr' forces suddenly breaking through the barrier between realms and starting to advance against the relatively small army of Helheim.
But there were also gods appearing, one after the other.

Leifr and Sigyn first, immediately hugging their daughter – and even her husband, the god of mischief saying something along the lines of Balder having to be a good son-in-law, given that he'd pulled such a long-lasting prank on the Norse.
Alys – guessed that her mother meant the fact that the god that was supposedly a prisoner in Helheim was, in fact, the husband of the realm's leader.

Then Odin and Frigg had appeared, the goddess covering her son in kisses, Odin more quiet but just as happy in his greetings of the child he hadn't seen in over a thousand years.

Then Thor, loudly calling a happy "Brother!"

It didn't take long for the gods to realize they were on a battlefield.
Even less time to realize what was going on, spreading their senses and realizing that Naglfar wasn't that far either.

[Norse pantheon enters the battlefield: +50 000 WP]

"I had wanted a good fight without the weight of prophecy!" the god of thunder boomed happily, hammer in hand "A battle, then a feast, seems like the perfect celebration for a day of happy reunion, what do you say, Leifr?"
Leifr's form shimmered, taking his real appearance for the first time in a very long.
"I think just for today, I will answer to Loki." the god mused "And make those idiots learn why they should fear my seidr."

"Yeah, go mum!"
"As for you, young lady…" Alys eyed her mother with worry – then was crushed in a bone-breaking hug "I guess congratulations on your first quest are in order." the god mused fondly
"After you've kicked those idiots' butt, mom." the half-blood reminded Loki "Besides, I've got to go and help Magnus and Samirah."

"Don't worry." a smirk "Jör is already there. Let's say that even a ship as big as Naglfar can't do anything against a snake as long as a realm."
Alys laughed happily – she really did love her family.

After that – the gods happily jumped into battle, and Alys didn't miss the more familiar figure among the number - she spied Adra, dancing with her blade in a way that made her rather admiring. The Egyptian gods had let go of their mortal form, and were quite amicably fighting side by side with the Norse - both pantheons were rather fond of war after all...

[Egyptian pantheon enters the battlefield: +40 000 WP]

[Moon pantheon enters the battlefield: +10 000 WP]

[Wixen forces enters the battlefield: +5000 WP]

Alys was doing her part with her wolves – while she had no intention of taking Surtr head on, there were still plenty of monsters going around for her to get more than her share of fighting. She found herself fighting with a few wixen, Leanne Potter, but also several of the Weasley siblings among the lot — for mortals, all of them were rather at home on the battlefield, something that no doubt came from being part of the Moon clan.
After all, it may be Alys' first quest, it wasn't her first battle — and during most of them, she'd fought by those wixen' side.

It was only once he disappeared in a cloud of reddish, warm sand, that Alys realized just whom she'd just vanquished. The giant, silvery grey baboon, with his fangs as long as a pair of scimitars, had been rather terrifying, the promise of blood and violence in his blood-red eyes one she didn't have any problem believing.
But – thankfully – Alys wasn't fighting alone, and as the issúlfr rallied around her, it was quite naturally that she'd slipped back in the same shape as them, and it was as a pack that they'd hunted their enemy.

[Babi pushed back: +5000 WP]

¤.¤.¤

Back on the shore-line, all had felt the moment the barrier between worlds broke, the hordes of enemies pouring even faster out of Naglfar.
For a second, Magnus had feared the worst. Then several new notifications had popped

[Norse pantheon enters the battlefield: +50 000 WP]

[Egyptian pantheon enters the battlefield: +40 000 WP]

[Moon pantheon enters the battlefield: +10 000 WP]

[Wixen forces enters the battlefield: +5000 WP]

He shared a stunned glance with Samirah, then the girl let out a gleeful shout.
The waters were simmering, and shuddering, and Magnus glimpsed some dark seaweed-green and midnight blue scales – and Jörmungandr was rising out of the water.
Everybody stopped on the battlefield for the length of a heartbeat – then the gigantic snake crowed "Let's get ready to r-r-ruuuuumble!"

Magnus barely refrained from facepalming. Samirah didn't, whispering threats against Leo Valdez, the son of Hephaestus having apparently been the one to hook her godly brother on boxing.
Then, Jör was twisting and turning around Naglfar – and a first, echoing, rasping, creaking noise was heard. Then another.
In a matter of minutes, Naglfar and a good part of its crew were nothing more than a shipwreck dotting the coast-line.

Samirah cheered wildly – and she was far from the only one.
Around the battlefield, there were thousands of people appearing and joining the fight, not gods, Magnus realized – but clearly sent by them.
After all – only Odin could give marching orders to the einherjar and the Valkyries.

[Einherjar enter the battlefield: +5000 WP]

[Valkyries enter the battlefield: +5000 WP]

Magnus' eyes widened as a tall, burly girl with snow-blond hair braided down her shoulders and pale blue eyes. She wore a leather armor, had a hammer necklace around her neck – and a familiar swan cape on her back.
"Not bad, daughter of mischief." she allowed grudgingly
He didn't hear what else she said – but Samirah was smiling, so it mustn't be too bad.

"Magnus!"
"Aunt Caroline!" the half-blood recognized, rather surprised "You look well!" he couldn't help but comment
And she did – being chosen as an einherji meant she'd lost all the imperfections and scars from her mortal life, gained some muscle definition – add to that the Norse armor and the sword in her hands, and she was nearly unrecognizable from the calm and composed woman he'd briefly gotten to know before her death.
"Thank you." she laughed "Let me tell you adapting wasn't easy." she glanced toward Samirah "But your sister helped immensely, especially thanks to the pictures and messages."

Einherjar weren't really supposed to leave hotel Valhalla, unless they were sent out on a quest or if a battle was brewing – they'd skirted around that thanks to Samirah, who was Caroline's Valkyrie and as such visited her nearly every day.
After that – the battle ended in a blur, and within moments of each other, two notifications flashed, all but calling the end of the fight.

[Surtr pushed back: +5000 WP]

[Hrym pushed back: +5000 WP]

Magnus didn't know who had taken care of Surtr – as for Hrym, he shared a smile with a red-haired Valkyrie in her twenties and a dark-skinned einherji with a friendly smile, wearing a woolen uniform from the American Civil War and armed with a musket and a bayonet.
For three people who'd never met before – they had made a surprisingly good team against the Jötunn.

[War Time System shutting down!]

[Total WP earned: 159 000]

[Life Quest Complete! Ragnarök Revival
Goal Complete: prevent Ragnarök
Reward: +100 XP, all non-immortal fighters in the battle earn "Honorary Einherjar" (unlocks your own suite in hotel Valhalla, access to the daily activities, and the right to come and go from there) title, +1 shape-shifting mutation perk per 50 000 WP, +5 PP per 25 000 WP, +3 CP per 10 000 WP
Bonus Goal Complete: reconcile the Norse pantheon
Bonus Reward: +200 XP, Norse United perk unlocked
Hidden Goal Complete: assemble allies (Egyptian, Moon, wixen)
Hidden Reward: 3*400 XP]

[Hunt Complete: Issúlfr (LV60)!
Reward: +100 XP, unlocks Issúlfr's Blood, Issúlfr's Hooves and Issúlfr's Claws Perks]

[War Hunt Complete: Babi (LV100)!
Reward: +100 XP, unlock Babi's Mark perk,
Alys earns "Babi's Bane" (all apes recognize that you've won against an ape-god, unlocks ape beast-speak language, unlocks one ape shape-shifting form (dependent on each individual)) title]

[War Hunt Complete: Hrym (LV100)!
Reward: +100 XP, unlock Hrym'Mark perk,
Magnus earns "Hrym's Bane" (all ice Jötnar recognize that you've won against an ice god, unlocks ice element manipulation and cold-resistance skill) title]

[New Perk unlocked
Norse United (6 PP): +10 to all Norse magics
Issúlfr's Blood (1PP):+5 ice
Issúlfr's Skin(2 PP):unlocks tracking skill
Issúlfr'sClaws(10 PP):grants the ability to enhance your attacks with ice damages (deals half your ice affinity skill % damages, upkeep: +10 MP/minute)
Babi's Bane (12 PP): unlocks ape beast-speak language, unlocks one ape shape-shifting form (dependent on each individual)
Hrym'sMark(12 PP):unlocks ice element manipulation and cold-resistance skill

Available: 100PP (Magnus: 73 PP / Samirah: 77 PP / Alys: 82 PP)]

The battles had ended with a gigantic feast in the nearby plain of Vigridr, in Niflheim, where once upon a time, Ragnarök had been supposed to happen, where a gigantic hall had been opened to host the thousands of warriors who'd taken part in the battle.
It was the first time Magnus – or any of the other half-bloods – ever saw so many of the Æsir and Vanir together, looking as festive as they did.
The fact that there were also Egyptian gods, not to mention the rest of the Moon clan, didn't take anything from the festive atmosphere, quite the contrary.
A few hours into the feast - the Greeks/Romans arrived, and things became even more rowdy.

"Figures they just needed a good fight and a good feast to finally stop being stubborn and reconcile." Samirah muttered while eating a large grilled volatile that tasted just like veal
She was faintly amused about it, truth be told, and just like Magnus, she felt – light.
As if a weight she hadn't known was there, had suddenly been lifted from her shoulders.
"I think all the Norse need a good fight from time to time." Magnus couldn't help but muse "But they also needed to remember that not all fights need to end with a literal apocalypse."

Somehow, he could just feel – that this failed Ragnarök had been all the Norse needed.
Things had already changed for the better – and they would keep doing so.
The end of the decade wasn't that far off – and for the first time…
He thought that, maybe, the worst was behind them.


ADRASTEIA LV 100 (16 YO)

BODY
Agility 37(79)
Strength 40(75)
Endurance 35(59)

SPIRIT
Intelligence 21(75)
Wisdom 21(84)
Fortitude 19(76)

HEART
Empathy 37(77)
Perception 37(77)
Sociability 29(69)

LUCK 27(78)

MC UNUSED: 45

PERK ACQUIRED (472 PP spent, 100 PP available)

Black First Rite (1PP): grants Easy Black Magic Potency (+10 to Easy Spells of Battle Magic, War Magic and Curse)
Moon First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Light Battle Aura (+10 to all damages)
Potter First Rite (1 PP): unlocks Sensing Skill up to 25 SP
Ravenclaw First Rite (1 PP): unlocks +10 to easy memory tests and +5 to Mentamancy Skill
Moon Aura (2PP): unlocks a battle aura that grants +10% to all damages when active, and drains 25 MP per minute active
Khonsou'Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Shielding Magic Potency (+10 damages parried by Easy shield spells)
Thot's Small Favor (2PP): grants Easy Healing Magic Potency (+10 healing done by Easy spells of all Healing Schools)
Black Curse Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to curse
Lovegood Divination Magic Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to divination
Moon Strategy Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to strategy
Peverell Healing Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to healing
Potter Transfiguration Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to transfiguration
Ravenclaw Rune Understanding (3PP): grants +10 to rune
Black Magical Potency (4PP): Grants +10% to MP
Lovegood Light Magic Seeing Ability (4PP): unlocks magic seeing skill up to 25
Moon Blood-stealing Aura (4PP): the Moon aura now allows the user to get back your Blood Skill % of HP per attack
Peverell Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Potter Reiki Potency (4PP): grants +10% to RP
Black Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (All Regen rate +5%)
Moon Heir (free): grants +10% KP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (Atavism)
Peverell Heir (free): grants +5% RP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (HP +10%)
Potter Heir (free): grants +5% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen (RP +10%)
-Slytherin Heir (free): grants +10% MP, one free bloodline talent to be chosen
Slytherin Head (free): grants +15% MP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Moon Head (free): grants +15% KP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Peverell Head (free): grants +15% RP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Potter Head (free): grants +15% MP, two free bloodline talent to be chosen
Jack of All Trade (5 PP): +1 SP per level
Natural Genius (2 PP): double book learning rate (locks Hard Work Genius Perk)
A Father's Strength (5 PP):+5 to all Communication
Blood of the Pharaoh (5PP): unlocks all Egyptian Magics
Cyclops' Skin (2PP): +5 to Physical and Elemental Resistance
Slytherin Member (free): +2 WIS, access to the Slytherin Students Rooms
Gryffindor Honorary Member (free): +2 SOC, access to the Gryffindor Students Rooms
Ravenclaw Honorary Member (free): +2 INT, access to the Ravenclaw Students Rooms
Hufflepuff Honorary Member (free): +2 EMP, access to the Hufflepuff Students Rooms
Slytherin Knowledge (2PP): +10 to parselmagic
Ravenclaw Knowledge (2PP): +10 to seeing magic
A Spirit's Guidance (5PP): +10 to True Form
Cyclops' Lungs (10 PP): grants the ability to breathe underwater
Gryphon's Wings (10PP): grant the ability to summon and dismiss wings
Whisper of the Wild (1 PP): unlocks Sensing the Wild skill
Ekimmu's Body (10PP): you can become intangible (upkeep: 10MP/second)
Rabasa's Fangs (10PP): you can steal the life of an enemy (upkeep: +1HP/10 damage)
Basilisk Fangs (10PP): grant the ability to secrete a powerful poison, that can be injected by fangs
The Path of Heroes (2PP): +10 to Battle Sense
A Race Against Time (5PP): +10 to Battle Sense
Battle Ready (5PP): +10 to all FIELD skills
Scythian Dracanae's Scales (2PP): +5 to Physical and Elemental Resistance
Galla's Sword (2PP): +5 to Blade and Close-Range Fighting
Gryphon's Claws (1PP): +5 to blade damage
Scythian Dracanae's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Poison
Empousai's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Blood
Galla's Claws (1PP): +5 to Blood
Rabasa's Shadow (1PP): +5 to Shadow
Gallû's Blood (1PP): +5 to Blood
Three's The Charm (10 PP): +30% LUCK
Spring Cleaning (10PP): +10 to all Holy Magic
Basilisk Fangs (10PP): grant the ability to secrete a powerful poison, unlocks Poison unique element
Child of the Underworld (10 PP) : grant +25% to all regeneration rate when in a holy site tied to death or in immediate proximity of a death god
Child of the Sea (10 PP): grant the ability to turn in a merfolk when in the water
Child of Rome (10 PP) : grant +10% damages for every two members of the same cohort you're fighting along side with; grants 5% if they're from a different cohort
Call of The Wild (12PP): +25 to Wild Affinity, Wild Sensing and Wild Magic
Spartoi's Fate (1PP): +5 to Shadow
Pit Scorpion's Tail (1PP): +5 to Poison
Keres' Claws (1PP): +5 to Poison
Vatnavaettir's Hooves (2PP): +5 to orientation and discretion
Spartoi's Training (2PP): +5 to intimidation and strategy
Pit Scorpion's Bite (2PP): +5 to parkour and wild-life
Stymphalian Bird's Beak (2PP): +5 to shooting and blade
Lycanthrope's Senses (2PP): +5 to killing intent and battle sense
Girtablullû's Legs (2PP): +5 to Dodging and Parkour
Bašmu's Fangs (2PP): +5 to Close Range and Killing Intent
Inari's Favor (5PP): +2AG, +10 to True Form
Heart of Fire (6PP): +10 to Fire and Fire Manipulation
Lovegood Basic Shaman Aura (unlocks Lovegood Regular Shaman Aura) (5PP): +5 PERC, +10 Wild-Life
Ravenclaw Basic Air Mage Aura (unlocks Ravenclaw Regular Air Mage Aura) (5PP): +5 AG, +10 Meditation
Laistrygonian Giant's Tattoo (10PP): grants force enhancing tattoo that gives +25% ST
Veteran of the Titanomachy: +25% damages against Greeks and Romans enemies
Infinite Knowledge (15 PP): +5 to INT and WIS, +10 to all knowledge skills
Protect the Children (10 PP): +10 to True Form, Shielding and Synergy skills
Darker Than the Abyss (12 PP): +10 to Shadow element and Shadow Walking Skill
An Ever-Changing Face (5 PP): +10 to shape-shifting skill
Magic is Might (20 PP): +10 to all magic skills
Unshakable Faith (12 PP): +10 to FORT, +10 to synergy
Old but not Forgotten (8PP): +5 SOC, +10 to all communication skills
Waters of Life (6 PP): +10 Swimming and Echo-location
The Last Protector (8 PP): +10 to shield and all resistances skills
Tjesu heru's Claws (2PP): +5 to Blade and killing intent
Serpopard's Paws (2PP): +5 to dodging and battle sense
Tjesu heru's Head (1PP): +5 to synergy
Serpopard's Fangs (1PP): +5 to Poison
Cutting Wind (8 PP): +10 to Wild affinity, Wild sensing and Wild magic
Veteran of the Apophis War: +25% against Egyptian enemies
Whisper of the Wild: unlocks Wild sensing skill
Agent of Chaos (12 PP): +12 to LUCK, unlocks intuition skill
Regular Witch (5 PP): +10% bonding speed with your wand
Confirmed Witch (7 PP): +15% bonding speed with your wand
Child Prodigy (9 PP): +3 to all Spirit Main Characteristics
Teach the Children (12 PP): +12 to Sociability, when teaching children, they learn 25% faster
It's a Trap (5 PP): unlocks trap fighting skill (allows to make and use traps)
Information is Power (5 PP): unlocks spying skill
Spring the Trap (6 PP): +10 to trap and strategy
Sibling Bonding (3 PP): +10 to synergy
Spring the Trap (6 PP): +10 to trap and strategy
Icy Chains and Fiery Heart (8 PP): +10 to ice and fire
A Deadly Glacier (8 PP): +10 to shadow and ice
Dangerous Waters (8 PP): +10 to water and poison
The Power of State (4 PP): unlocks politic knowledge skills
Blood of Your Enemy (4 PP): +10 blood

FIRST PATH - (+10% MP and RP, +5 to SPIRIT MC, +10 to Magic Skills)
AWAKENING PATH - (+10% to RP regen, +5 to HEART MC, +10 to Weapon Skill)
DREAMING PATH - (+1AG/10LV, +5 to HEART MC, +10 to Magic Skill)