I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Back in the past.
Thor waited patiently in front of his brother's room to hopefully get some reply from his father about Baldur. Three hours had passed since he brought his brother back into their home. Baldur was still convulsing by the time they arrived at the village.
"We're all going to die. Ragnarok will come." The young man continued to say incoherent sentences that nobody could really understand except for his father, who looked worried.
"Ragnarok? What did Baldur mean by that? And why is Father so concerned? Why were his eyes glowing?" Many were the questions of the young god of thunder, but few were the satisfactory answers to his questions on several occasions.
"Father, I'm half-giant, right?"
"You are."
"Then why do we have to fight the giants?"
"Thor, your mother might have been a giant, but you're nothing like those beasts. They would have done the same to you if I had not arrived on time."
"But-"
"But nothing. The Jotun are our enemies who took your mother away from me. If they had only accepted our rule, none of this would have happened."
His father's words remained as a cruel memory of the difficult situation between Asgard and the Jotun.
"You must slay them all. Show no mercy to the Jotun, for they won't show mercy to you, my son."
As he remembered the task given to him by his Father, the door opened up, and Thor's eyes met those of Odin.
"Father, what about Baldur?" Thor asked the one-eyed god.
Odin looked much younger as his hair and beard were shining blonde compared to his future self. His face also depicted the energetic attitude of an ambitious god in his prime.
"... He's alright for now, but I need to do something about it. Your brother's dormant powers will drive him mad if I let them be as it is. I need to take care of them." Odin said.
"Powers? So that's because of his powers? Can we do something about it?" Thor asked Odin.
"Yes, but shall not speak about this anymore. Go back to training and forget this ever happened. I shall take care of this myself." Odin said as he dismissed Thor.
Thor wanted to say something, but he knew better than to argue back. Odin had treated him more like a soldier than a son since his earlier years. Everyone was a soldier in Asgard, everyone needed to follow Odin's orders, and those that decided to rebel would pay the price.
Thor ate his frustration and walked away, knowing that he couldn't do much about this mysterious situation.
As he walked away, Thor ignored the signs of what this day would mean in the long run for Asgard and his father.
"Ragnarok….. Is this how you're going to get back at me, Ymir? Through my son? I won't allow it. Baldur will live even if I had to take such an accursed power upon myself. Just wait." Odin told himself as he sought a way to save his son from his mysterious fate.
Back to the present, Kuroka's POV.
Kuroka and Rossweisse exited the lab through the same painting as before.
"Gaia, was that vital to the mission? Burning the lab down while we're still inside?" Kuroka asked the tiny goddess sitting on Rossweisse's shoulder.
"Tiamat likely saw the danger that such a place presented to the alliance. Getting rid of that place took utmost priority at that moment." Gaia said to the pair. "The mission is complete; you three must get out of the castle and reach the rest."
Kuroka seemed mad about the whole fire since only Tiamat could have evaded any damage.
"Kuroka-san, don't get angry at Tiamat. I wanted that lab gone as much as the rest." Rossweisse said as she turned around to look at the painting.
The painting started to change once more as the black landscape was turned to a burning blue. Flames consume everything, and from those flames emerges Tiamat in all her glory.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. It was something that had to be done." Tiamat calmly said to her team.
"Thanks for doing what I couldn't," Rossweisse says as she bows to Tiamat.
"There's no need for that. Someone had to eliminate that atrocious place. I just accelerated the process, but that doesn't mean Odin won't try to do it again. Asgard needs to unite and stop Odin, or he will continue to do as he pleases." Tiamat said before she placed her hand on top of Rossweisse's head. "You were brave enough to bring us here. Feel proud of that; the rest is up to your fellow Asgardians."
"I know…. There's so much one individual can do. I hope it doesn't take them too long to realize where Odin is leading our people into. I'll regret not being here to see if we can truly change and stand up to him." Rossweisse admits.
Kuroka slaps the back of Rossweisse. "Have hope in them, and don't feel too sad about leaving Asgard. The alliance already welcomes you, and there's more to see. More to enjoy and more people to meet. I can assure you that you won't regret coming with us."
Tiamat smiles under her mask. "Exactly what she says. Now, let's go before-"
"Before what?" A voice calls out to them.
The group turns to the voice. A figure approaches them, and Rossweisse's eyes widen in surprise at the god coming to them.
"Baldur-" Rossweisse stops herself as the lantern hanging from her hip starts to shake wildly. "No. He is trying to hide his true appearance." Rossweisse grabs a small bottle from her pouch and drinks its contents.
The rest of the group do the same as they see what she's doing.
Their eyes twitch and ache as the illusionist before them gets revealed as his true self.
"Loki?" Rossweisse had to take another look as the effects of the tears showed Loki, but instead of the god, she remembered the god in front of her had half of his face melted.
*Author's notes: Items name: Drops of true visage. One of many items Hades has asked Hephaestus to make over the ages. Having brothers like Zeus and Poseidon made the god worry about when one of them would dare to touch his beloved wife, Persephone. Once used, the effects of the drops become permanent against the target, and one can't hide their appearance from the user; multiple targets require multiple uses.
Loki has been unable to heal the effects of Midg's attack, so he hides his true face from everyone by using his powers. Not even Odin knows about this.*
"My, my, Rossweisse. I'm glad to see you after so long. Nice armor you have there, although it can't hide your identity from me. Father has been worried about your disappearance. What's that object you have on your back?" Loki said as he approached the group believing that none of them knew who he really was.
Rossweisse quickly remembers what this fake "coffin" is for and promptly backs away, drawing Loki's attention to the fake coffin. "This is not for you, Loki. I'll free this poor soul from Odin's grasp."
Kuroka and Tiamat do the same as they realize that they just got an opportunity to accomplish a goal that was practically a gamble.
The eyes of the god are quickly drawn to the coffin.
"Why are you calling me Loki? I'm Baldur. Now come along-" Before Loki has the chance to finish his sentence, Rossweisse runs away alongside the rest of her team. "You sneaky whore!"
The god quickly gives chase as he drops the act and attacks them with his powers. "Give me that damn coffin!"
Kuroka smiles as she evades the attack. "Girls, we have him where we want him."
"Not yet, kitty cat. We have to sell this thing out. He needs to believe it is what we want him to think, or he will catch up to our plans. Continue running, and I'll make an exit." Tiamat said.
The goal of the second coffin was to draw attention away from the real one and, in case the opportunity showed itself, use it to find out precisely what Loki was doing. The fake coffin was a very complex spy beacon that would not only give the location of those holding it once activated but also give the alliance clear audio and images of whatever place it found itself, even if it was in a different realm. It was nearly indestructible, so Loki couldn't destroy that easily. It was a gamble, but if Loki took it, the alliance would be ahead of the game.
Knowing his plans and what he wanted was something that the alliance needed, and luck was smiling at them right now.
Meanwhile, in the capital, Tyr's POV.
The tallest god on Asgard stood before the breach Ddraig had made with his flames. His long strands of black hair escaped his ashen helmet which covered his head. The god was clad in an ashen armor Viking suit, and several weapons were tightly secured on his back, a sword, a spear, a long sword, a shield, an ax, and even a short bow, as Tyr was always ready for any possible fight.
The god kneels before the ruble before he expects the damage caused by Ddraig.
"His flames melted right through the stones." Tyr's gray eyes moved around as he inspected the area closest to the breach. "Yet none of the fires spread into the city. This is all weird."
Tyr was a general, a seasoned one at that, who could detect inconsistencies in any battlefield as he had seen everything that there was to see. Betrayal, alliances forming in the middle of fights, soldiers defecting, everything in the book he had seen, but this attack felt too pacific for a dragon attack.
"No confirmed deaths; most of our forces are chasing after Ddraig, and there's that train that I have been informed about. So what are they trying to get out of this? Why are you all coming here now to fight us? What are the plans of the alliance?" Tyr continued to ponder and think about these questions until the loud sound of a train approaching alerted him to the approaching enemy forces.
"All forces to the cannons shoot them-" Tyr didn't even get to finish his sentence as time was stopped once more.
Shiva's POV.
The small primordial god of destruction stood on top of the train alongside all the allies that would infiltrate the Asgardian capital. Every member of this team was the best the alliance could offer, with members such as Sirzechs, Baraqiel, Uriel, Diehauser Belial, Vasco Strada, and many others.
All wore battle suits that hid their identities and protected them against attacks.
"Here we are, everyone. Remember the goals of this mission, get our allies out of the capital and retreat back into the train. I won't accept anything but perfection. No deaths on our side and no allies left behind. Remember to keep your identity hidden and ensure not to cause too much destruction. Alright?" Shiva asked his forces as the train entered the capital through the breach Ddraig had made.
"Yes, sir!" Everyone replies.
The train moves across the capital at high speeds before it makes a sharp turn to exit back through the breach. As the train is turning, archers and long-range attackers that were under the lead of Apollon and Artemis shoot several projectiles at any turrets inside the city to offer the teams a more accessible time around while also eliminating the chances that the defenses of the capital would attack the train.
"Jump now!" Shiva orders the team as he jumps and gets frozen in time.
The rest do the same as the train exits the capital before time resumes again.
The large force of the alliance divides itself into at least ten teams with 5-7 members each. Shiva's team includes Uriel, Baraqiel, Zeoticus, and Metatron.
"Team C-1, move out. Communicate with the close network communicators." Shiva orders his team as he rushes towards the castle.
"Yes, sir." His team replies as they follow him into the depths of the enemy territory.
The other teams do the same from their positions around the city. Asgardian forces quickly pick up the enemy forces inside the capital and start to advance to contain the teams of the alliances.
It doesn't take even a minute before Shiva's team stops its advance as Tyr and his forces crash down in front of them, thus blocking their path.
"Dogs of the alliance, you shall not advance anymore. This is the place where you die." Tyr said as he shot an explosive arrow against Shiva.
Metatron shoots one holy knife at the arrow, which explodes before reaching its target.
Shiva touches his ear. "Team C-1 here; Tyr has made contact with us. We'll face him in combat. Continue ahead."
"Understood, Team C-6 has made contact with Freyr. Well, keep him busy on our side." Sirzechs replies.
"Team C-4, Freyja is in our sights. We'll keep her away from the others." Diehauser says.
The remaining teams confirm their statuses as everyone pushes to meet with their allies inside the castle.
Shiva cracks his knuckles before he rushes forward and clashes against Tyr. Their clash sends shockwaves in all directions as the Norse god of war meets a challenger like no other.
"You are small like a child, but you hit like an adult. Just who are you?" Tyr asks as he holds his shield up to block Shiva's punch.
"That you don't need to know." Shiva increases the strength behind the punch before it cracks the shield into a million pieces.
A purple flame fireball impacts Tyr's face and sends him flying off into a building due to not having anything that could protect him.
"Team C-1, don't let them breathe and defeat all of them," Shiva orders his group.
All members quickly act to aid each other as they take on the Asgardian forces, ensuring that none are killed or run away to ask for help.
Back in the train, Midg's POV.
"So this whole operation involves rescuing Ymir, my family, and Thor's family?" Midg asked the devil floating in front of them.
"Indeed. Since Gaia came into the picture, there were plans to come into Asgard for Ymir. Gaia-sama had gained information about the possibility that Ymir was alive, so she asked us for our collaboration in his rescue. All of you were added to the goals as we got more information from Rossweisse. Thank her for your rescue." The devil said.
"Holy mother, you're telling me Ymir has been imprisoned for that long?" Fafnir asked. "Just how is that even possible? I never knew about it."
"It is likely that few knew about such a thing. The Jotun and other groups backed away from directly attacking Asgard since Ymir was presumed dead. If anyone had known about Ymir's imprisonment, more than one group would have united to free him and likely destroy Asgard with his power." Eika says as she connects the dots.
"Few groups like Odin and many groups dream of the day of his death. The bastard has gained the hate of many over the ages. I wouldn't be surprised if Asgard were attacked after the mission was over." Fara continues.
"... We don't plan on releasing such information anytime soon." The devil says.
"Why? Wouldn't that put the alliance at an advantage?" Mira asks the devil.
"The alliance doesn't seek to lead Asgard to its destruction. Odin might be the worst of the worst, but that doesn't mean that the rest of Asgard should pay the price for his actions. We're here for a rescue mission, not to bring war to Asgard. If we were to attack Asgard and kill its denizens, we would be giving them reasons to come to attack the alliance. Our goals don't involve conquest or the destruction of other pantheons. We seek peace and cooperation, although we might sometimes have to cross the line. We're here tonight because we believe all of you can be our allies. Midg, Fafnir, Thor, and your families, all the help we can get will make a difference one day. The more allies we have, the closer we get to our main targets." The devil says.
"Which is?" Midg asks.
"That will be something Tiamat-sama will tell you once she's back. For now, we ask for your collaboration. None of you should abandon the train unless it is essential. Our teams are working hard to make the mission a success, and if any of you interfere, it might lead to unaccounted variables that could result in failure or worse." The devil said.
"I can assure you that none of them would exit this train, but I might need a suit if things take a turn for the worse," Midg says.
"Dad?" Midg's children turn to him.
Even the wolves look at him with visible distress on their faces.
"Be at ease, kids. I'm only getting ready in case of a what-if scenario. Fafnir, you must stay with them at all costs if I exit the train. We both know it will be easier for me to face the Asgardian forces than for you. There's always a chance that Freyja might show up and come for your ass." Midg said.
Fafnir's body shrieks as the name of the goddess is mentioned. "Just don't kill her if you see her. I like to know that Freyja will go unharmed after all is said and done."
"Uncles' girlfriend!" Midg's children tease the dragon after hearing his soft tone when speaking about Freyja.
Fafnir says nothing and closes his eyes in defeat. He knew they were right as Freyja, and he had a long story between them. Maybe his longest-lasting relationship.
The devil is watching all of this and tries to deny Midg's request, but a voice stops her.
"Get him a suit. We might need to join the battlefield sooner than later." Everyone turns towards the voice only to see the legendary God Slayer, Typhon. "Good to see you all of you after so long."
Midg smirks as he meets Typhon. "Nice to see you here. Still looking for a fight with any god that comes to earth?"
"Not so much these days. How're the children? Are the little brats still the same brats that I remember?" Typhon asks as he comes closer to the group.
"Uncle T." The children cheerfully say as they see Typhon.
"Nice to see all of you. Look how big you got after so many centuries. Echidna would love to see you as much as Mom." His tentacles extend toward the kids before patting each of their heads. "Ms, please get this dragon a suit."
The devil takes a second to look at Typhon before she gives up, as Typhon wouldn't accept a no for an answer. "Ok. Give me a second." The devil departs to another car to find an extra suit for Midg.
Typhon smiles before he turns to the brides of Midg. "Nice to see all of you as well. As beautiful as the first time I saw you." Typhon bows his head to the brides of Midg.
"Thanks, you crazy battle maniac." The brides reply to the slayer.
"And you are still the same heartbreaker from back in the day. I'm still waiting for the day you settle down, Fafnir." Typhon says, but Fafnir says nothing as he rests his head back. "Maybe one day you'll change."
"Anyways, Typhon, do you see us joining the battlefield?" Midg asks his fellow godslayer.
"Likely. I feel that something unexpected will force us to join the rest. It might be Ddraig needing help or maybe something else." Typhon says.
"Your sixth sense is detecting danger?" Fara asks the slayer.
"Maybe. The more you plan, the more unexpected things will happen. Luck might be on our side now, but one second is all it takes for things to go sideways." Typhon says.
"..." Midg said nothing as he pondered what could happen until he sensed a presence like no other. His heart began to beat faster as the presence became stronger. "No way, could it be?"
"Midg?" Typhon calls out to Midg, but he ignores him,
The dragon king leaves his seat and approaches the closest window. His eyes looked in the distance towards the gate, trying to find what it was that gave him this sensation.
"Could it be him? Is he coming?" Midg didn't know what to think as the sensation grew stronger with each second.
Back in the gate. General POV.
While the dwarven engineers worked on fixing the gate, an army of greenish shadows invaded through the portal without anyone noticing.
These shadows moved fast as they traversed the land as shadows until they slowly arose from the ground, taking the shapes of ghostly mounted soldiers with their queen at the lead.
Half dead, half alive, Hel, daughter of Loki and youngest sibling of Midg and Fenrir; Hel held the same hair color as her father but also an appearance that could offer beauty and horror due to her physical condition. The Norse goddess of death finally arrived at Asgard, bringing gifts nobody asked for.
"Catapult!" Hel ordered her minions.
The ghostly soldiers use their bodies as materials to build the catapult. Their screams were horrendous as they felt the pain of their bodies being twisted in ways that nobody should be forced to.
With the catapult complete, Hel snapped her finger before a large chained body was summoned from within her shadow. The large figure growls in pain and anger as it tries to release itself from the bindings.
The figure's eyes had been sewn together, and its body was filled with ghostly weapons and open wounds.
Hel smirks as she sees the pitiful appearance of her prisoner. "You just had to accept your position and not defy Father, yet you rebelled against him. Move him to the catapult."
The large body was moved to the catapult.
Hel transformed one of her soldiers into a pair of binoculars that she then used to calculate the trajectory for her gift to Asgard. "30 to the west. Adjust the angle and be careful about the wind. We got one shot at this."
The soldiers obeyed and did as told as the catapult moved, the so-called projectile continued to fight for its freedom to no success.
"Fire!" Hel ordered her soldiers, and before long, a large chained body was thrown toward the capital of Asgard. "Alright, maggots, spread out and find those seals. Wait for my orders."
The soldiers turned to shadows again and went out in different directions while Hel continued forward with a small group following her. The maniacal smile on her face was a vivid sign that things were about to get nasty for everyone present.
Back in the capital.
While the alliance continued to clash against the Asgardian forces, none expected the incoming projectile that crashed in the middle of the city near where Shiva and Tyr's groups were crashing against each other.
*Survive said the Prophet- Mukanjyo*
The large body destroyed several buildings in the wake of its impact on the capital, many stopped fighting and turned their attention to the impact site.
Yet those who got closer to inspect the area were horrified as an enormous beast arose from the ground, finally escaping its bindings.
One of its legs was gone.
His body was practically a skeleton, as he had lacked proper food for a long time.
His injuries were many, and blood dripped into the ground.
He lacked sight as his eyes had been taken away, but none of that had decreased his bloodlust and anger. His fangs were as sharp as any legendary blade; his blood burned like the flames of endless war.
He was the wolf fated to slay the Asgardian leader, but in his mind, which had been driven to total insanity, only one desire remained.
To slay the creator who had wronged him so much.
With a loud howl, Fenrir screamed the name of his creator. "Loki!"
His blood erupted into flames as it arose and took the shape of burning bloody wolves; said bloody wolfs spread out in all directions consuming all houses in its wake. Then, like wolves in the hunt, they devoured any building they reached, leaving no mercy for those unlucky enough to find themselves inside.
*Author's note: Fenrir's skill: Flames on Wild Rage. His blood becomes the catalyst to create large area fires that consume anything in their wake. His blood materializes wolf copies set ablaze due to his anger, spreading out to cause chaos. This blood is highly toxic and shouldn't be consumed or touched by anyone unless they have protection against it.*
Fenrir had just joined the battlefield, and nobody was safe in the wake of his madness.
Shiva saw the wolf in the distance with visible surprise. "Damn, our luck. Why now?"
Back on the train.
Everyone heard Fenrir's growl, and none could ignore the sense of doom that loomed over them after hearing such a painful sound filled with anger and madness.
But the ones that were affected the most were his children. Skoll and Hati grew restless as they felt the presence of their father. Their instincts told them to join him on the hunt, but Midg quickly interfered to prevent this.
"Calm down, Skoll, Hati. You're not beasts of destruction. Remember who you are." Midg said as he held the two floating wolves.
The pups settled down in their uncle's arms as they returned to their senses, but their concern remained as they knew that their father was in Asgard.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it. I promise to bring your father back in one piece." Midg said as he released both of his nephews. "Mira, take care of them. I'll be back once I'm done with my brother."
"I know. Be careful." Mira says as she reaches to grab the wolves.
Midg turns around and faces Typhon. "I'll need your help; I fear that something is wrong. Fenrir has been missing for quite a long time, and him showing up in this place now might be a sign of impending doom."
Typhon smiles before he offers his hand to Midg. "What's family for? Let's go and get that brother of yours."
Both shake hands to seal their small alliance.
The devil comes in looking distraught after what she has been informed about. "You might really need this." She offers the suit to Midg.
Midg takes it and starts to change his clothes. His children watch his back and notice the scars that he holds.
"Your father is a relatively peaceful one amongst all of us first-generation dragons. But he will fight anyone and everything without a second thought when needed. Look at him well and never forget that back of his. He is Midgardsormr, the dragon king of the end. The nemesis of gods." Fafnir says as he turns to the devil. "Get me a suit. I will protect this train alongside the rest."
His face took a serious expression that only a warrior would show on the battlefield. Maybe he was the object of jokes and a punching bag of his fellow dragons concerning his love choices, but none dared to question his determination when he got serious.
"There's a face that a maiden can learn to love. Get this idiot a suit and tell Athena I'm going out. There's a wolf that needs saving." Typhon said as he felt the thrill of joining the battlefield.
*Author's notes: So the chaos begins. Hel has brought Fenrir into Asgard, and his skill has brought death to many innocents. The beginning of the fears of Odin has just started.*