Chapter 36 – Battle of New Coruscant
Fire, death, carnage…this was why Thoros accepted the power from the great benefactor. He screamed causing the flames to spread in every direction, causing an explosion creating even more rubble. Tarre and Fenrir had teleported to a safe distance, the two had felt the death of the few werefolk they could not rescue. Anger in his heart, Fenrir dashed towards Thoros turning his surroundings into ice.
Thoros launched a beam of fire towards Fenrir. At the last moment Fenrir was pushed out of the way and Tarre blocked the fire with his Uru arm. He pushed the fire back at Thoros surprising him. This gave Fenrir enough opportunity to encase Thoros in ice.
At that very moment, their commlink buzzed with General Alvis demanding an explanation. "The man with Muspel fire is here."
"I understand. But there is more. The planet is being invaded by crazed werewolves. Fenrir you must get up here", Alvis ordered.
As Fenrir began to leave, the ice erupted and Thoros collided with a force barrier that Tarre had created. Thoros punched it continuously, Fenrir began to move towards Thoros but was stopped by Tarre, "Go. I can handle this."
Tarre then chucked Mjolnir at Thoros with such speed, that the latter was unable to dodge. Thrown to the ground with the hammer keeping him there, the mad pyromancer screamed. Every minute his intellect was ebbing, the fire of Surtur was taking everything from him…leaving behind only a desire of revenge against Loki. After killing Fenrir he would go and slay Jormungandr and then eventually slay Loki. These delusions were all that remained.
Fenrir prepared to leave but heard a howl. Immediately appeared Skoll and Hati, in their 20-foot wolf form towering over the two. The silver-grey wolf pounced on Tarre biting into his metal arm. Tarre was forced to recall Mjolnir in order to defend himself. Meanwhile Skoll had pounced on Fenrir. Fenrir force pushed him away and was punched by Thoros's flaming hand. But unlike last time, Fenrir was armoured up and could defend himself against the flames.
Tarre kicked Hati and used Mjolnir to launch the wolf into the air and away from them. Then he and Fenrir turned towards Thoros. Fenrir snarled and was about to go in for the kill when he heard Tarre in his head, 'Don't kill him. We need to know how he got the fire of Surtur.'
'Fine', Fenrir snarled.
Then the two of started chanting in Old Norse and fired off beams of energy around Thoros, who snarled and struck the beams with his fire. Every beam that was hit intensified by taking the fire's energy. Eventually the beams became a large sphere completely trapping Thoros and sealing off his movement.
Tarre and Fenrir collapsed on the ground panting hard, believing that they had trapped Thoros. Unbeknownst to them, Thoros was teleported by an unknown hidden entity, the very same that Thor had ordered Ratatoskr to find.
But their rest was unnecessary. Tarre got up and flew out of the wreckage to witness that the entire planet was in turmoil. Berserk werewolves attacked everyone, leaving behind death and destruction on New Coruscant. Alvis was now fighting Skoll and Hati, while the Ghost Crew were fighting off the invaders. Fenrir was still recuperating, as he had spent a lot of power at once (while still recovering from his recent jaunt with Kaido). Tarre sensed Amora's presence and another. The second presence flew up to Tarre and swung his mighty axe at him, which Tarre blocked with Mjolnir.
"Who are you?", Tarre asked.
"Skurge of Skornheim", came the reply.
"The mighty bridge defender", Tarre said with a dry chuckle. The two engaged in battle, while Amora floated behind them enjoying the sight of carnage. Fenrir saw her and snarled while still in hybrid man-wolf form. As he got up to attack her, a big reddish-brown wolf (nearly 200 feet) landed on the planet and dropped the ships that were carrying all the rescues and civilians in them on his head. Fenrir was so stunned that he didn't even try to stop the ships from landing on him. Now Fenrir was buried within the rubble of destroyed ships and dead bodies. The wolf then roared resulting in the wolves becoming even more savage.
"Save your strength for the main event…my dear Johann", Amora said to the wolf.
She and her brother approached the citadel of Asgard, their entry permitted by Heimdall. Her name was Lithia, and her brother was Joseph. They were both Nephilims, everyone in their clan was a Nephilim. There were other clans like her own, and they were all being hunted. Mostly they could stave off the occasional misguided individuals, but in the last few weeks the attacks had become frequent, and their tactics had changed. The reason behind their hunts could be due to anger or grief, for Nephilims were born out of the union of Demons and Angels. So they had come to Asgard, to appeal to the Allfather for protection against such acts.
"Allfather Thor, thank you for listening to us", Lithia said as she and her brother knelt in front of Thor.
"You are the representatives of all Nephilims? Are you recognised as their leader?"
"Yes sire. We come before you to firstly ask for forgiveness and secondly ask for the protection of the mighty Aesir", Joseph spoke.
"Forgiveness", Thor sighed, "Do you deny your involvement with demons during the apocalypse?"
"Nay sire…we aided them in their conquest. It is an act that brings us great shame, and as such my brother and I will go to any lengths to earn your forgiveness. We only ask that our kind be not held accountable, as the decision to aid demonic elements was our own", Lithia spoke.
"Hmm…very well", Thor said, "What is the second matter?"
"Our kind's persecution has reached new heights, everyday more Nephilims are being unjustly killed", Joseph said.
"Allfather", Lithia looked up at Thor, "We beg for your protection. Please do not let an entire species be punished for the crimes of a few."
"Am I to understand that only you two aided demons during the apocalypse? Know that if you lie…there will be consequences", Thor narrowed his eye.
"Nay sire, others were involved…but we take full responsibility for their actions. As leaders of our people their folly is on us", Joseph spoke.
"Words once spoken can not be taken back youngsters", Thor said.
"We stand by our words sire, the punishment is ours to take", Lithia spoke.
"Who persecutes such that you must prostrate yourself before me?", Thor asked.
"We…We are not sure sire. We believe that some of the Vanir do target us", Joseph said.
"Do you have proof?", Thor asked.
"No sire", Lithia said.
"Heimdall will guide the Nephilims to a safe world in Asgardia. We will investigate the threat your people face…and your punishment will be decided later when the threat against your kind is over", Thor announced, "Go now."
The two gave Thor their thanks and internally breathed a sigh of relief, if Thor was helping them…then the future of their kind was ensured.
Death, carnage, and the smell of blood filled the air. Ezra looked in shock, his vision was coming true. Back in the Ghost the children were terrified, Jacen, Gabe, Skyla, and Erin had witnessed their second battle in such a short time, while for Mira it was a new experience. Hera flew the ghost, Sabine flew the Starbird, while Chopper flew Tarre's ship – Star-1. Ahsoka was with Satine ensuring the safety of the Chancellor, his aides. She had signaled Chopper to pick them up, which he was doing. Satine saw in the air seeing Tarre fighting a losing battle against Skurge…a Cherub against a Seraphim. Far in the distance, Alvis was fighting Skoll and Hati, somehow keeping the two out of control wolf gods in a stalemate.
The new Republic fleet had arrived the system, but was being cut to pieces by Amora, who was laughing manically and crazed werewolves who were running on air. Ezra and Kanan were coordinating the ground forces, when everything came to a standstill. There was an eerie silence in the air, ships stopped firing, wolves stopped attacking, people stopped running. Red Skull in his giant wolf form felt fear for the first time since his resurrection. Amora's magic stopped working and she crashed to the ground, seeing this Skurge rushed to her side axe at the ready. Skoll and Hati stopped attacking Alvis.
"What's going on?", Sabine asked in her comm.
"He is here", Tarre simply said.
"What…who?", Hera asked.
Before Tarre could say anything, the answer presented itself. This sight reminded Gabe of his vision…a terrible thing, something big appeared. So big that the sun was completely blocked out, casting a shadow so big that its shape could barley be made out. When suddenly a gigantic paw landed in front of Red Skull who yelped in surprise. Back on the Ghost…Erin had started to convulse.
"Erin?", Hera asked in worry. She couldn't let go of the controls, but Gabriel came close and held her. Erin still convulsed and started changing, her hands becoming small paws and her face started to elongate. This made Gabriel release her in surprise and Erin yelled in pain as she completely shifted ripping apart her clothes. In Erin's place was now a very small wolf with golden fur. Her eyes the same as Fenrir, showed her confusion and shock. A feeling that everyone on the Ghost shared.
On the ground, Red Skull howled in challenge, "This display means nothing. I hold the power of Varcolac."
In response was another howl, deeper and more powerful which compelled almost everyone on the planet (save the members of the Ghost crew, Satine, Alvis, and the children) to prostrate themselves on the ground, even the ones in the New Republic fleet.
From the sky the mighty being brought its head down, the face of a gigantic wolf of unknown size. The face was pure white like ice spoke, "And I am Fenrisulfr, God-King of the Canidae. Know your place fool."
