Akane no Mai

by Kanius

A man from the world of Vein drops into a world of Thieves. He meets a pragmatic woman. She greets him with a calm smile. "My name is Togo Hifumi." Following the fateful encounter, a host of monsters arrive, disrupting the peace. The Thieves return to confront these entities outside their realm and ultimately cross paths with the Revenant man.

60. Opening Acts of Wulf-Edda

Book III: Fictional Edification

Chapter V: Opening Acts of Wulf-Edda

---

Yggdrasil/Urðarbrunnr

As the Phantom Thieves, Vein Remnants, and their friends gathered, Sága opened up with a narration about her dimension's history. "A long time ago, in an age long since forgotten, there existed a once grandiose and eloquent kingdom that prided itself in its prominence and long-standing dominance. It was one of many known realms called the Níu Heimar (the Nine Realms/Homeworlds). This once-acclaimed realm was known as Asgard, the home of the Æsir. Famed legendary figures and warriors once resided in this sanctuary. Modern stories often depicted the figureheads of this realm to be heroic and prideful, but in truth and as the original mythology depicted them, Asgard had a dark hist'ry rooted in blood.

This was not just the story of Asgard, its people, and the Nine Realms.

This is the tale of the Wulf-Edda world."

Asgard was once known for its radiance, brilliance, and power during its golden years. As time passed, its former brilliance has since deteriorated. Its ruler, King Odin, maintained his throne with an iron fist with little to no opposition. Those who opposed his authority were personally dealt with.

For millennia, Odin was a powerful king who ruled over a prosperous dominion. Nowadays, Odin has become more tyrannical and dismissive of anything that runs against his stagnant views. Odin's demeanor had changed as he'd gotten older. His rule was marred with his own pettiness. Stagnation turned a once beautiful kingdom into a decadent one. Asgard became sickly and decayed as time went on.

Despite the worsening conditions, the petty Allfather was set in his ways. Gone were the Golden Years when the First and Second Generation Valkyries proudly soared the blue skies. Gone were the days when Asgard's people could proudly call themselves the 'best of the Nine Realms'. Nowadays, all that remained was an Asgard under grayer skies and a shell of its former self. The current Third Generation Valkyries lacked the idealism their predecessors had.

---

Dimension: Wulf-Edda/Outside Asgard/The Slums

Accompanied by his elite guards, the Asgardian king walked along a narrow road and meticulously eyed the slums that lay beyond his royal grounds. Odin and his guards checked the security of the poverty areas, who tried to survive these harsh war times. During his walk, he got a mix of reverence and fear from the citizens a king would classify as 'peasants'.

On his way to meet with his sons, Odin was immediately met with scorn from an adolescent boy, who didn't hesitate to throw a rock in the Allfather's direction. Although the rock didn't faze Odin, the elite guardians immediately seized the boy. When Odin faced him, the boy spat near the Allfather's feet and cursed him. When the boy looked up at Odin, he saw a man who's lived to see many conflicts shed with blood and ruled his dominion for countless millennia. He was a tall figure, garbed in polished silver armor with a white loincloth, and a sky-blue cape. He wore a helmet with the horns of a Gefjun bison. His left eye, long since removed, was covered with a dark gray and ivory eyepatch. He had long, shaggy shoulder-length white hair, still noticeable under the helmet. His thick beard matched the white of his hair.

"Thou didst not save my family! They were killed in a raid and thou hadst not done anything to stop these monsters!" The boy scornfully berated Odin, whose rugged face didn't convey sympathy. His restless state didn't afford him enough energy to try putting on an optimistic demeanor.

"How shalt we deal with this peasant, Allfather?" One of the guards asked the Asgardian king.

"Let the child go. We hast more pressing matters than dealing with ruffians and these slum rats," Odin darkly muttered, beckoning his guards to release the boy.

"Curse thee, old man… I hope thou suffer…" The boy muttered with contempt for the divine being he was raised to worship, but in return for all of those prayers, his family still met their demise.

"There art enemies near this village. Deal with them. I shalt go to where my sons are," Odin firmly declared, slamming his staff as a golden ray of light enveloped and guided him toward his sons' location.

---

On the other hand, despite having fallen into decadence and the poverty areas dealing with shortages, Asgard's society still maintained its grandiloquent lifestyle, especially Odin's subjects such as Thor, Víðarr, Loki, Brynhildr, and the Third Generation Valkyries.

Even during these decaying times, Asgard still faced adversaries from the other realms that tried to topple its sovereignty. Outside threats include the Jötnar, the Dwarves, and even the Elves. The Asgardian forces have often been rallied to ward off these external threats. Leading the Asgardian forces were Thor and Víðarr.

---

Dimension: Wulf-Edda/Asgard

In their attempt to raid the city, a wave of Jötnar and Dwarves stormed toward Asgard. With news spreading that Asgard's once prominent status decaying, the other realm denizens decided now was the time to make their move and tear the city's foundations with repeated attacks. So far, their strategy seemed to work.

But, not today.

A powerful bolt of lightning clapped in front of the Jötnar and Dwarven armies. Half were blasted away and another quarter of them were wiped out. The forces ceased their attacks as they looked up at a figure standing on top of a giant block of castle debris. This figure carried with him a hammer glowing with lightning. Next to him was another male figure.

"No! These two were not supposed to be here!" A Dwarf gaped in aghast at the two Asgardian figures.

"Thou pay for slaying our kin, Thor and Víðarr!" A Mountain Jötunn snarled furiously.

Thor emerged brandishing his majestic hammer Mjölnir. He was a burly-sized man with long, straight shoulder-length red hair and braided knots in the back. He wore a silver body armor with dark gray lower body armor. A dark blue cape fluttered behind him while the winds blew against him. A horned helmet with small feathered wings adorned his head. His blue eyes fiercely gazed at the invaders that dared enter Asgard.

"Thou hast no business here, outsiders. Show respect for Allfather and Asgard!" Thor bellowed, madly swinging Mjölnir around. He rushed at the Jötnar and Dwarven forces.

Try as they might, they were quickly blasted and blown to bits by Thor's powerful hammer.

"Come now, Thor. Dost not hog the glory to thyself," Víðarr spoke out. He was a slightly shorter man. He had short, neck-length dark blue hair and brown eyes. He wore an upper body sleeveless black armor, silver wrist gauntlets, and dark green armored leg wear. His accessories included a heavy-weight silver waist belt and thick brown boots.

"Why dost not thee step in then?" Thor walked aside, letting Víðarr pass by.

"My pleasure," Víðarr charged into some Dwarves and pummeled them with lightning-fast punches. Each punch connected and made their heads explode in a gory fashion. He turned as a Frost Jötunn rushed him for a sneak attack. Víðarr casually sidestepped the icy beast and handed a chop to its back, breaking its entire back in two. He then finished it off by punching his fist through its head, ripping out chunks of its brain, and watching it drop dead.

"Thou hast to be messy? Víðarr, thou will never be worthy to wield Mjölnir."

"I hast no need for thy toy, Thor. I can handle these abominations with my own hands."

"That is enough childish playing!" The booming voice of an ancient man yelled out.

Suddenly, everyone became alarmed when a beam of gold and white light crashed into the earth. A loud boom occupied the impact of the beam, causing the invaders to back off. Their faces contorted with trepidation.

Thor and Víðarr saw the aged but divine Asgardian king emerge. The Asgardian king's blue eyes scanned the Dwarves, the Frost Jötnar, and the Mountain Jötnar.

"And now Odin?!" A Frost Jötunn screamed with fright.

With a loud snarl, Odin conjured his mighty spear, Gungnir, and slammed it to the ground. From his spear, the Asgardian king unleashed a powerful wave that cleansed the entire area of the invaders in one blow. Removing his spear, Odin spat on the burned remains of the invaders.

Víðarr clapped. "Well done, father, but Thor and I were…"

As he whipped around, Odin shot a piercing gaze at his two sons. "Thou were too busy playing with them instead of simply finishing them off!" He gritted his teeth hard while angrily chastising his sons.

"Father, listen…" Before Thor could finish, Odin hit him with a glare, quickly silencing the god of thunder.

"Thou wonder why I hast retained the throne for so long? Because neither is ready. Thou are still children and not yet ready to take on the responsibilities required to be king!" The Allfather shook his head and sighed with a tone of frustration. "Tell the armies to clean this area up of these carcasses. After that, meet me in my chamber."

Thor and Víðarr both bowed to him. "Yes, father."

---

Asgard/Valaskjálf

Shortly after, Thor and Víðarr met with Allfather in his royal chamber. Allfather glared at them in his golden throne, Hliðskjálf. He had Gungnir situated next to the left side of his throne.

Standing to Odin's left is a tall, slender man, garbed in black body armor and a purple and yellow cape. He wore a golden helmet with horns. He had green eyes and neck-length dark red hair just like Thor's. He had a dark red mustache.

"Oh, what hast thou done this time, Thor and Víðarr?" The tall, slender man addressed the brothers.

"I will handle them, Loki," Odin insisted.

"As thou wish, brother," Loki bowed and stepped aside to give Odin room.

"Thor and Víðarr, thou need to get more serious in these critical times. Asgard is being attacked by various forces from the Nine Realms." Odin lectured his sons.

"As thou sayeth, father, but Víðarr and I shouldst continue to lead the forces against the outsiders from Jötunheim and Svartalfheim."

"Thor is right, father. These Jötnar and Dwarven armies art just the first wave. Even Elves from Alfheim art directly attacking us!"

Odin shouted. "No! Thou two hadst thy chance. Thou shalt will be given assistance and they will make sure thou art kept in line."

"Who would thou need to summon to help us?" Thor queried Allfather.

"Heimdallr, let them in now." Odin then glanced over to a tall russet-skinned man, garbed in golden upper body armor, silver wrist gauntlets, gray loincloth over his legs, and thigh-length golden armored boots. His known features are his golden eyes and long tyrian purple hair.

"Yes, Allfather," Heimdallr obediently answered and opened the chamber doors.

Everyone in the quarters heard the sound of clicking footsteps. As the footsteps came closer, the clicking became louder and the clattering of armor was heard. A heeled foot was seen tapping the floor.

Thor gaped in shock. "Them? Thou summoned them, father?"

Nine armored women entered Odin's quarters and confronted the Allfather's sons.

"So, he hath summoned the Valkyries," Víðarr muttered.

"Well played. This was quite unexpected, brother," Loki smirked, twirling the left side of his mustache.

"There was no other choice," Odin firmly stated. His right eye suspiciously glanced over to one Valkyrie of the nine. "I almost hate thyself having to summon thee, Brynhildr."

The nine Valkyries turned around and faced Odin. All but one bowed to the Allfather and showed him their allegiance. The only one not bowing was Brynhildr, the leader of the Valkyries. In contrast to the men in the room, the fair-skinned young woman was much shorter. She had black hair in a shoulder-length hairstyle coupled with longer strands braided in the back hair center. Her most notable features are her golden eyes. She was garbed in her Valkyrie wardrobe: dark gray full-bodied armor, sans the arms, with golden chainmail underneath, dark gray knee-length armored boots, and a silver helmet with white wings.

"Old man, why hast thee called for the Valkyries? To babysit thy stupid sons?!" Brynhildr shouted in a crude and loud tone.

Odin gritted his teeth while maintaining his composure in Brynhildr's presence. "Remember to know thy place."

Brynhildr scoffed. "Whatever. I, Brynhildr the Blood Valkyrie, am here." She forcefully said.

The next Valkyrie rose. She also had fair skin with tinges of red on her flesh, especially around her cheeks. She had neck-length blonde hair put into a small ponytail. Her notable features are her bronze eyes. She was the exact height as Brynhildr. Her Valkyrie outfit consisted of moderate layered brown and silver armor, sans the legs; she also wore a light brown loincloth with beige leggings underneath and dark brown knee-length boots. She had elaborate metal embellishments on her upper body armor and boots.

"Please pardon my leader's crude mouth, Allfather," the blonde-haired Valkyrie offered an apology. "I, Sigrún the Radiance Valkyrie, am here to serve thee."

Brynhildr rolled her eyes. "Thou dost not need to apologize for me, Sigrún."

"What? Of course, I do!"

The third Valkyrie stood up. She was taller than Brynhildr and Sigrún. Her complexion was slightly paler than the other two, but not so much that it was sickly or snow pale. She had long, straight-back-length argent-colored hair. She had silver eyes. Her Valkyrie wardrobe comprised silver upper body armor, including elbow-length silver armored gloves, coupled with a long white battle dress. She wore silver knee-length boots. She wore a silver helmet with silver wings.

"Lord Odin, thou looking well. I, Eir the Healing Valkyrie, look forward to serving thee," Eir bowed to the Allfather.

The Asgardian king nodded as his face briefly conveyed sadness when looking at Eir.

Eir then turned her sights to Víðarr and nodded shamefully. "Oh, what hast thee done, Víðarr? That Allfather hath to summon for me and my colleagues?"

"Brother and I went into war without a proper strategy." Víðarr modestly replied to Eir, who pinched his left cheek.

"Thou shouldst know better, Víðarr. Don't worry we shalt work together."

The next Valkyrie stood. Being one of the tallest of the nine, she was fair-skinned. Her shoulder-length hair is a distinctive strawberry blonde and has assorted braids in the front and back. Her eyes are green. She wore a full-bodied orange and white battle armor, sans the forearms, and golden armored wrist gauntlets. She wore white knee-length boots with yellow trim. She wore a white helmet with golden wings. She wore a white cape that had orange trim.

"I, Thrúd the Storm Valkyrie, come as thee requested, Allfather," the tall blonde Valkyrie properly addressed him in a slightly deep tone. She then shifted toward Thor. "Hello, father. Hast thy and uncle been causing problems for grandfather again?"

"Well, I hadst hope thou never find out. Víðarr and I were fighting hard. And then thy grandfather came in and wiped out the invaders."

Thrúd sighed. "So, thou two played around with thy opponents again instead of finishing them off?"

"Yes…"

"Thou know mother will not be pleased to hear this," Thrúd replied.

"I know."

Then, Thrúd walked up and pulled Thor into a tight embrace, surprising even him with her strength. "Nonetheless, it is good to see thee again, father!" Her voice became higher-pitched when her jubilant personality surfaced.

"And thou hast gotten so strong, Thrúd! Sif wouldst be proud!" Thor managed to squeeze out two sentences before Thrúd almost crushed him.

"So sorry, father," Thrúd set Thor down. "I hast gone through intense training during my time as a Valkyrie."

"Yes, I can see that."

The next Valkyrie rose. This Valkyrie stood out as exotic-looking compared to the first ones. She had a light brown complexion. She was also undoubtedly the tallest of the Valkyries. Her red hair is a tomboyish short, nearing neck lengths. She had red eyes. Her Valkyrie armor is a revealing ash-gray battle armor attire, which showed enough of her skin, including impressive six-pack abdominals built like steel. Adorning her right shoulder is a piece of burgundy sole shoulder armor. She also wore black spiked wrist gauntlets and an ash-gray helmet fashioned like a facial mask. Her footwear was burgundy gladiator-styled armored sandals. Her appearance exuded a rare masculine beauty, which made her stand out among her Valkyrie peers.

"I, Göndul the Masculine Valkyrie, am ready to fight for thee, Allfather," the tall, brown-skinned woman addressed in a deep tone. She sounded almost masculine as her title suggested.

"Likewise," the next Valkyrie chimed in. Göndul turned to see a russet-skinned Valkyrie standing opposite from her.

This Valkyrie neared Göndul's height and was equal to Thrúd. Her lavender hair stood out among her Valkyrie peers. She had her long back-length hair styled in princess curls, giving herself a regal appearance. She had baby blue eyes. She wore purple lip gloss. Her Valkyrie attire comprised of moderately layered azure armor, sans the forearms and legs, coupled with a white gown underneath the armor. She had on a turquoise battle dress and knee-length azure boots. Her helmet was azure and fashioned like a crown with turquoise wings on the sides. In contrast to Göndul, this Valkyrie had a royal and feminine appearance as if she had come from another land far away.

"I, Skögul the Feminine Valkyrie, whose beauty surpasses Freyja hast returned to serve thee, Allfather," the lip gloss-wearing, russet-skinned woman respectfully bowed to Odin. Her tone exuded royalty and haughtiness.

"Yes, thou hast remained inseparable despite the rising conflicts," Odin noticed Göndul and Skögul holding hands.

"Of course," the two Valkyries responded in unison.

Skögul turned to notice Heimdallr. "Oh, I barely noticed thee, father. How is my modest-looking sister, Geirskögul, doing these days?"

"Thou look more beautiful than before, Skögul. Geirskögul will be happy to see thee."

"Yes, yes, as thou sayeth. I am sure she misses me, but I wouldst rather not be put off by her mediocrity." Skögul turned her back to Heimdallr and twirled a princess curl with her finger. "Not when I can spend time with my beautiful Göndul." She walked over and threw her arms over the tall masculine woman.

Having witnessed this, some of the others in the chamber were put off by Skögul's arrogant behavior and shoddy treatment of her family.

Víðarr whispered to Eir. "Dost not tell me thou hast to put up with their haughty behavior?"

Eir nodded. "As beautiful as their relationship is, these two still hast not changed their haughty and petty behaviors."

Thrúd scoffed. "And that is what turns me off about them. They treat the rest of us like rubbish."

Sigrún added her displeasure of the two. "Yes, and I wish those two would stop calling me a Gulon. Such a demeaning name."

Brynhildr added. "As much as I abhor them, their strengths hast won us battles."

The next Valkyrie rose. In contrast to Thrúd and the lesbian couple, this one was a munchkin in comparison and had fair skin. Her jade hair was straight and shoulder length and currently worn in a ponytail. Her eyes are amber. Her Valkyrie garb comprised a moderate green layered armor with a silver chainmail undergarment. She wore a knee-length violet battle dress and ankle-length green boots. Her battle helmet was fashioned like a crown and lacked wings.

"Lord Odin… I, Mist the Shroud Valkyrie, humbly serve thee," the young Valkyrie meekly addressed him out of respect and fear.

"What art thee so afraid of, Mist? He is a mere old man past his prime. Go ahead and tell him how thee really feel!" Brynhildr rolled her eyes.

Mist walked away, not giving Brynhildr a glance. "Please dost not talk down to Allfather like that."

"Why not? Fukka him. He needs me more than I need him! When his sons cause problems, he calls for me to straighten things out!"

Mist sighed. "Just stop giving him problems. He might finally be beyond the breaking point."

"Like I need a flat-chested brat to tell me that."

Hearing this, Mist's face contorted with annoyance and her cheeks blushed from embarrassment. In fact, Mist was already covering her chest despite them already covered under armor.

The last two Valkyries bowed before Odin.

On the left is another fair-skinned woman with neck-length auburn hair and vermilion eyes. She wore a black cloak often worn by rangers and utilized for stealth missions. Under the cloak, she wore very light red armor with black chainmail underneath, a red battle dress with black leggings, and shin-length brown boots.

"I, Ölrún the Huntress Valkyrie, am present and accounted for."

On the right is a beige-skinned woman with shoulder-length wavy navy blue hair and cream eyes. She wore revealing cyan battle armor coupled with a see-through white veil that covered some sections of her body. She also has on a short cyan battle dress and shin-length silver armored sandals.

"And I, Geirdriful the Thread Valkyrie, am ready to fight for thee, Allfather."

With all nine Valkyries present, Odin got up from his throne and raised a hand.

"My Valkyries, I bequeath thee to take my sons and Loki into battle."

Hearing this, Loki turned to his brother. "Pardon? Thou send me into battle?"

"It is time to pull thy weight around here, Loki. Unless thou hast any objections?" Odin replied in an angered tone.

"N-No, of course not, brother."

"Sending us out already? Art there more invaders?" Eir asked the Allfather.

"No, worse," Odin answered.

With that, they heard thunderous explosions emanate outside. Then, the explosions were accompanied by an unearthly series of monstrous roars.

"No, but that is…" Before Thor could finish, Brynhildr interjected.

"Yes, the Great Drekar are here! Let us fight and slay them once and for all!" Brynhildr yelled out. Her lust for a bloody war exuded from the maniacal grin she now wore.

"Then, go and end them now!" Odin bellowed out his command.

"Yes, here we come, thee three behemoths! " Brynhildr laughed maniacally. "Thou days of rampage and bloodshed are over!"

---

The Third Generation Valkyries are an interesting assembly of nine. Despite being an effective team, their personalities gelled as well as water and oil. With the exceptions of Sigrún, Eir, and Thrúd; the other Valkyries were a mix of bloodlust (Brynhildr), narcissism (Göndul and Skögul), grandiloquent pettiness, insecurity (Mist), and even hints of racism (namely Göndul and Skögul's treatment of Sigrún). How these Valkyries have managed to maintain a stabilized unit has been nothing short of a miracle, but Brynhildr, Sigrún, and Eir have managed to keep them together. Arguably, Sigrún is the heart of the team that keeps them together.

In comparison, their predecessors fought together harmoniously and enjoyed healthier companionships. The first two generations lived and defended Asgard during its Golden Age. Unlike the Third Generation, the First and Second Generations fought a common foe: Grímhildr the Unmoralisch. When Grímhildr was finally slain, there was much to celebrate, but it was a sign that Asgard's Golden Age was over. After the Second Generation went their separate ways, Asgard fell into decadence.

The First Generation comprised Frigg the White Valkyrie, Sváfa the Light Valkyrie, Freyja the Love Valkyrie, Hel the Underworld Valkyrie, Skaði the Frost Valkyrie, Vör the Beast-tamer Valkyrie, and Jörð the Earthshaker Valkyrie.

Starting with the First Generation, Frigg led her Valkyries to not only send the Einherjar to Valhalla but also participate in various conflicts, especially a series of battles against Grímhildr and her forces.

As Grímhildr's armies increased, Frigg and her maidens couldn't win alone. They required new Valkyries to help them. This is where the Second Generation came into play.

The Second Generation comprised Sigrdrífa the Blade Valkyrie, Reginleif the Shield Valkyrie, Róta the Sleet Valkyrie, Herfjötur the Blacksmith Valkyrie, and Skalmöld the Trapmaker Valkyrie. They were also known as the Valkyrie Fimm.

These five young maidens were recruited based on their skills and elemental attributes. Unlike their predecessors and especially their successors, these five maidens were idealistic and progressive-minded individuals. They weren't tainted by the cynicism and pettiness that had taken over Asgard.

To combat the Valkyrie Fimm, Grímhildr summoned her Völva Fimm, a group of five witches, to contend with them. She also acquired the services of Andvari.

In the final battle against Grímhildr, the First Generation and the Valkyrie Fimm fought with every ounce of strength they could give. As the Valkyrie Fimm destroyed the Völva Fimm, Frigg and Sigrdrífa fought Grímhildr. When Grímhildr went for a killing blow to Sigrdrífa, Frigg threw herself in front of Grímhildr's intended attack and sacrificed herself. As Frigg died in her arms, Sigrdrífa dealt a critical blow to Grímhildr and with Odin's aid vanquished the Unmoralisch. Sváfa, too, lost her life in the battle.

Shortly after, Asgard paid their respects to the fallen, including Frigg and Sváfa. The First Generation Valkyries lost two of their own. With Grímhildr slain, the Valkyrie Frimm decided to retire, settle down, and go their separate ways. Sigrdrífa worked closely with Odin for a time, even as much as allowing her to classify the World Tree as the Tenth Realm and renaming the Níu Heimar (the Nine Realms/Homeworlds) to the Tíu Heimar (the Ten Realms/Homeworlds). The natives of the World Tree, the Homo Yggr, were pleased with Sigrdrífa's decision to grant them equal sovereignty in relation to the other Nine Realms.

Unfortunately, the passing of Frigg weighed heavily on Odin's heart. It was one of the factors that changed his outlook on life, causing him to become more dismissive, petulant, and tyrannical in his ways. This led to stagnation for Asgard. He couldn't make peace with his wife's death. Seeing the writing on the wall, Sigrdrífa was unable to placate her king. His mental condition worsened with age. Arguments between them became more frequent. She peacefully resigned from being Odin's advisor and she gave him some parting words.

"For thy sake and the future of Asgard, please allow someone who can progress and restore this kingdom out of the decadence it will eventually fall into."

Upon reflecting Sigrdrífa's parting words, Odin took her advice to heart, but his unwillingness to pass his seat to a suitable successor showed how far out of touch he had become.

The former Valkyrie Frimm not only moved on, but they each found love interests and birthed children. Five of these children would later become half of the Third Generation Valkyrie. Sigrdrífa married a king named Buðli and they birthed Brynhildr. Reginleif married Högne and they birthed Sigrún. Róta married Alf and they birthed Mist. Herfjötur married Kjárr and they birthed Ölrún. Skalmöld married Hermóðr and they birthed Geirdriful.

Of these five, Sigrdrífa died as a result of childbirth. The news had struck Odin with grief. He had lost someone he considered a friend. Despite their disagreements, he had been respectful and forgiving of Sigrdrífa. Likewise, she never showed him contempt. As the last light in his life died, so too did Odin's compassion. He shifted his anger toward the one responsible for Sigrdrífa's passing: Brynhildr.

Before her passing, Sigrdrífa married Buðli, a king who had been a bloodlusted warrior in his youth. This was a trait that passed over to Brynhildr. In addition, prior to her untimely death, Sigrdrífa's Valkyrie powers passed over to Brynhildr. Between becoming a Valkyrie and inheriting her father's crude bloodlust, Brynhildr became too violent and dangerous to contain. Her bloodlusted behavior scared off any potential suitors. One day after violently attacking and killing a castle servant, she was handed off to Odin to facilitate her rage. Hesitant to take in the temperamental adolescent, Odin vowed not to be as forgiving and observed her training.

Once she became the leader of the Third Generation Valkyries, Brynhildr's arrogance knew no limits, causing a heated rivalry between her and Odin. Bynhildr enjoyed antagonizing him every chance she got. Because of this, Odin refused to acknowledge Brynhildr as Sigrdrífa's daughter, but instead a monster with no moral conscience.

However, this wasn't quite true as Brynhildr found some companionship with Sigrún, seemingly reigniting a friendship their mothers had. Odin would then confirm Sigrún is Sváfa's reincarnation.

Additionally, before Brynhildr joined Asgard, Eir came to Odin to become a Valkyrie. The Allfather immediately recognized her to be Frigg's reincarnation but kept that revelation to himself. He granted Eir permission to train and later recruit the Third Generation Valkyries. Once acknowledged that his reincarnated wife came to him, he accepted they couldn't be together and encouraged his son, Víðarr, to get engaged with Eir and keep her in good company in his place.

Through three Valkyrie Generations, Asgard had seen the heights of its Golden Years and later succumbed to a great decline leading to its current stagnant period.

However, a great change was forthcoming.

---

Asgard

Like a natural disaster hitting an unsuspecting civilization, the Great Drekar struck with an unbridled force. If the invading forces hadn't brought enough destruction, then three unearthly behemoths would certainly carve a path of devastation to Asgard.

The ungodly roars of the three monsters shook the foundations of their surroundings. Rooftops were blown off. Homes were crushed and left in ruins. Flames spewing forth from the gullets of these beasts burned homes and facilities to the ground. Sections of the cityscape started to resemble a hellscape. Asgardian civilians fled, but countless numbers were killed during the Great Drekar's assault.

The timing of their attack was suspicious as they came not long after the invaders assaulted Asgard. These were the thoughts running through the Valkyries, Thor, Víðarr, and Loki's heads.

When they arrived, they sighted the three abominations ravaging the Asgardian city.

"So, the Great Drekar hast decided to follow suit and attack us during our down period," Víðarr muttered. Seeing the destruction left in the wake of their attack incited him with fury.

"Drei Snakô, Rüstung Wyrm, and Gehörnt Wivern," Loki referred to the Great Drekar's names with familiarity. "Thou hast gotten bigger the last I saw thee! Such growing boys! Thy father wouldst be proud of thee!"

Thor turned to Loki. "Yes, the World Snake is thy son. And these wouldst be thy grandchildren."

"Correct, and they art being naughty grandchildren."

Brynhildr scowled. "How about we go down and punish them by carving out their flesh while they still breathe?!" She took out her blood-stained broadsword that hadn't been polished after the last victim she brutally killed.

"Yes, I must concur with Brynhildr. Let us hurry and slay these beasts before they bring more destruction to Asgard," Eir said, readying her staff for battle.

When the sound of thunder clapped, Thor raised his hand. A bolt of lightning blasted his hand as Mjölnir produced within his grasp. He pointed Mjölnir forward and took off flying into the cityscape. The Valkyries, Víðarr, and Loki followed.

---

The first of the Great Drekar, Drei Snakô, casually crawled through scores of homes. Drei was covered in Chartreuse Green with purple stripes. Drei stood 115 feet in height and had a 253 feet length. He possessed no arms and legs but had wing-like fins. However, even with these fins, Drei was incapable of flight. The behemoth had three heads with three straight floral white horns on each side of his heads, totaling six on each head and totaling eighteen for all three heads. He lacked any spikes on his back for defense. All three heads had the same snake-like appearance. Yes, snake-like rather than draconian. The amber eyes on all three heads resembled serpents. When all three mouths opened, Drei bared his snake fangs while lacking carnivorous teeth and a long forked tongue. Drei's roars sounded like a cross between a hissing snake's vocals and a screeching bellow.

"That is quite enough, Drei!" Loki called out, drawing the three-headed Dreki.

Hearing his grandfather's call, Drei turned his attention toward the party of Brynhildr, Skögul, Mist, and Loki. The three-headed Dreki towered over the Asgardians and bared all three sets of his snake fangs, hissing loudly.

"Thy grandson hast no manners, Loki," Skögul remarked, put off by Drei's approach.

"Indeed, he can be very moody. I wouldst not apologize for his behavior since he picked up his father's bad habits."

Brandishing her broadsword, Brynhildr snarled. "Enough of this! Let us skewer this, bikkje!"

"Hold on!" Loki insisted as he confronted Drei. "Drei, listen to me. This is thy grandfather speaking! Will thou and thy brothers kindly leave? Thou hadst enough fun. Why hast thee come to destroy Asgard?"

Drei responded by shooting his middle head past Loki and straight for Brynhildr. The Blood Valkyrie quickly responded by slicing the side of Drei's middle head. Her broadsword carved through his cheek and drew first blood.

"Drats," Loki muttered.

"Heheheh, yes! WE WILL CARVE AT THEE! AND BATH IN THY BLOOD!" Brynhildr bellowed happily with a maniacal grin on her bloodily drenched face.

"Ugh, so unsanitary, Brynhildr," Skögul sighed as Drei quickly advanced on them. Drei's left head snapped forward and tried ensnaring the Feminine Valkyrie. She quickly responded by summoning bubbles from her hands, surrounding herself and her allies for defense. Making good use of her Aqua Protection, Skögul deflected Drei's head attack like a barrier. "Quickly, Brynhildr, Loki, and Mist, my Aqua Protection defense spell will not last!"

Mist flew into the air and summoned her two seax. She tossed both at the eyes of the left head. One managed to pierce the left eye, but Drei turned his head to protect his right eye. The left head snapped up to engulf the Shroud Valkyrie. Unable to react in time, Mist became petrified. Brynhildr intercepted Drei's left head and shoved her broadsword through the beast's throat. Driving the blade deeper, a rain of blood poured over Brynhildr, causing Mist to get squeamish.

"What the Hel art thou doing?! Thou hast to fight like thy life depends on it!" Brynhildr chastised the Shroud Valkyrie.

"B-But, I hast never fought behemoths such as these!" Mist cried out.

"Consider today to be thy lucky day! Now help me or cower in fear like a fukka coward!"

Watching Brynhildr tearing open the throat flap of Drei's left head, Mist trembled in fear. When recollecting herself, Mist clenched her fists. She opened her hands and conjured a jade cloud that spread over Drei's left head. Drei's left head got caught by Mist's Njörðr's Tempest. Brynhildr watched the young Valkyrie immobilize the creature's perception. Brynhildr and Mist beckoned to each other to attack, which they did. The Blood and Shroud Valkyries hastily struck Drei's left head. Mist reproduced another seax and threw it at his right eye. Brynhildr quickly brought down her broadsword over the left head and beheaded it. The headless stump gushed out blood and collapsed while violently convulsing.

"See?! I knew thou hadst some fight in thee!" Brynhildr's bloodied face grinned.

"I suppose I do…" Mist sighed, seemingly overcoming her fears.

"A little help!" Loki called out as he cast a projection of himself to confuse Drei's right head, but the Dreki's perception figured out his grandfather's scent. The right head snapped at Loki, but the trickster sidestepped the beast's fangs and tossed a knife imbued with orange light. The magic-infused knife exploded like a grenade and knocked the right head back. "Don't test thy grandfather, Drei!"

As the right head raised its half-burned face, Skögul readied magic circles shaped like whirlpools. The Dreki's right head snapped at the Feminine Valkyrie, but Skögul defended against his fang attack with her magic circles. She hovered into the air and lured the right head away from the middle head. The right head cautiously followed Skögul and waited for her to drop her defenses. Realizing repeating the same tactics won't work, the Feminine Valkyrie opted to go on the offense. She powered down her bubbles and beckoned the right head to attack. Not one to turn down an invite to strike, the right head lunged at Skögul. She quickly flew to the left side, but the right head curled around and opened his mouth to swallow her.

Skögul smiled frigidly and raised both hands, magically amassing a globe of water above her. She then caused the globe to explode and summoned a tidal wave. Her Waves of Rán collided with the right head and knocked it down. She didn't stop there as she blew a freezing breath. Having drenched the right head, Skögul used her Breath of the Sea to freeze the right head into solid ice. She swiftly flew down and kicked the frozen head, shattering it and the Dreki's right head into pieces.

"Two heads down, one left to go," Skögul observed Brynhildr, Mist, and Loki fighting off Drei's middle head. "Perhaps I shouldst lend them support?" She twirled one of her princess curls and scoffed haughtily. "No, I rather not get drenched in foul Dreki blood."

Shoving her broadsword into Drei's forehead, Brynhildr opened up a big wound. The middle head swung his head back, taking Brynhildr with him. He shook Brynhildr around, but the Blood Valkyrie held on. Mist summoned her Celadon Wind, a wind-like mist, that struck the middle head. The magic from this mist paralyzed Drei's middle head.

"Nicely done, Mist!" Loki cheered her. "Drei, art thou going to surrender now?! Because I rather not see thee die here!"

Drei screeched loudly as if rebuking toward the trickster. Loki shook his head.

"Then, thou leave me no choice, Drei," Loki took out a dagger to kill the Dreki.

However, Brynhildr had other ideas as her eyes glowed red. She invoked her Rage of the Valkyrie and shoved her broadsword through Drei's middle head. She then turned her sword upward and hacked half of its face off. She rolled out and was covered in Drei's blood.

"How uncouth thou art, Brynhildr," Skögul made a disgusted look. "How can thou stand drenching thyself in blood like a savage beast?"

Ignoring Skögul's disparaging remark, Brynhildr wiped the Dreki's blood from her face.

"Yes, well it hadst to be done," Loki sighed as he stared over Drei's corpse.

"Hey," Brynhildr addressed Mist, who turned to face her. "Thou art not the spineless coward I thought thee art."

Mist responded, turning away ever slightly. "I am no coward."

Brynhildr spat on the ground. "Anyway, I am ready for more! Art the others done yet?!"

The group heard the bellows of the other two Great Drekar emanating from far-off opposite directions.

---

The second Dreki, Rüstung Wyrm, was caught in a heated battle to the death with Sigrún, Thrúd, Geirdriful, and Thor. This Dreki had a Cardinal red scaly body. The Dreki had a Davy's gray armor plating and body design akin to an Ankylosaurus. His head and face had onyx horns, including two horns on the crown of his head and a third on his nose like a Diabloceratops. Upon the frill he had were a pair of very long bony horns. He had a ceratopsian beak with sharp teeth. He had yellow eyes. This armored four-legged wingless dragon was 123 feet tall and had a body length of 153 feet.

When Wyrm shook off his four opponents, he let out a deep and ambiently deep bellow. As Thor flew at the horned Dreki, Wyrm made a defensive stance and snorted, deeply roaring. Wyrm charged and collided with Thor. Thor grabbed Wyrm's left front horn and pummeled him with several blows with Mjölnir. Dazed from Thor's hammer blows, Wyrm walked right into Thrúd's battle axe. The Storm Valkyrie's battle axe chopped off the left horn.

"Come at me, ya big bruiser baby!" Thrúd beckoned Wyrm to charge at her.

Wyrm invited himself into attacking Thor's daughter. Thor amassed a lightning bolt from Mjölnir and blasted the side of Wyrm's body. However, Wyrm used his back armor to stop Thor's blast. Thrúd tossed her battle axe at Wyrm, who smacked it away with his other horn. Wyrm continued charging at the strawberry blonde-haired warrior. Thrúd quickly soared into the air and magically recalled the battle axe to her hand.

"Thrúd, keep thy distance until I give thee some of Mjölnir's power!" Thor called to his daughter, who nodded and stayed stationary in mid-air.

Sigrún and Geirdriful provided a distraction for the horned Dreki. Sigrún had her spear and shield ready. Wyrm charged her way ready to stampede over her. The shieldmaiden quickly swerved away and flew into the air. She struck Wyrm's neck with her spear, inflicting a damaging wound. The Radiance Valkyrie then unleashed a flash of radiant light, blinding Wyrm's optical senses. Having used her Sváfa's Radiance, Sigrún allowed the others to get their hits in.

Geirdriful produced her flail, which she used to sprout threads from the spikes. She swung her flail around, which extended the threads. From these threads, the spikes pierced into Wyrm's unguarded legs. She then ensnared two of Wyrm's legs: the front left and rear right. She manipulated the strings' cutting abilities and sliced off Wyrm's front left, causing the Dreki to collapse at the front.

"Nicely done, Geirdriful!" Sigrún happily cheered her colleague.

Geirdriful paid little mind to the Radiance Valkyrie. The Thread Valkyrie aimed to twist off Wyrm's rear right leg, but the Dreki got up and started spinning around. Geirdriful found herself being spun around and tossed a few hundred feet away.

"Geirdriful!" Sigrún cried out.

Thor dove in fast enough to catch the Thread Valkyrie.

"I got thee, maiden."

"Thank thee, Thor," the Thread Valkyrie replied.

"This Dreki's been wounded, but we must finish him," Thor then raised his hammer and a lightning bolt struck the ground near Zmey, knocking the beast over on its body. He produced yet another lightning bolt. "Daughter, art thou ready?!"

"Charge me up!" Thrúd called out.

With that, Thor tossed the lightning he amassed from Mjölnir at Thrúd. The Storm Valkyrie used her own body and battle axe like a lightning rod. Upon absorbing Mjölnir's power, Thrúd became imbued in an electrical aura. She swooped down and swung her battle axe, sending a devastating lightning ball that struck the Dreki's unprotected underbelly. After unleashing Ber-serkr Ball, the Storm Valkyrie quickly swooped down and blasted a hole through Wyrm's chest with a massive lightning bolt. Thrúd's Mjölnir's Strike seemingly finished Wyrm off.

"Well done, my daughter!" Thor proudly cheered on Thrúd.

"Thrúd! Behind thee!" Sigrún called out as Wyrm got up blinded with fury.

The horned Dreki charged toward Thrúd. Thor and Geirdriful flew over to stop Wyrm, but Sigrún stepped in Thrúd's path and invoked her innate ability to briefly enhance her speed. She grabbed Thrúd and pulled her away from Wyrm's path. Sigrún made use of Will of Hundingsbane, which she learned to make up for her lack of elemental-based abilities.

Angered that his daughter was nearly crushed, Thor swung Mjölnir and cracked the Dreki's beak. Thrúd then joined in with her father as they crossed their weapons together. Father and daughter finished off Wyrm with double the Mjölnir's Strike. The charged lightning blast collided and punched a hole through Wyrm's head. Wyrm finally collapsed and died in a heap of his own blood.

"Great Odin, am glad thou art ok, my daughter!"

"Yes, but thou shouldst thank Sigrún, father," Thrúd motioned over to the Radiance Valkyrie. "She saved my life and I am indebted to her."

Thor nodded to Sigrún. "Thank thee."

Sigrún smiled. "Of course."

---

The third Dreki, Gehörnt Wivern, was fiercely engaging Eir, Göndul, Ölrún, and Víðarr in a survival battle. Unlike the other two Great Drekar, Wivern was an aerial beast like a pterosaur. He soared high above his four adversaries. This Dreki had a Spanish gray scaly body with a Glaucous underbelly. His eyes are red. He has a single long crest on the back of his head and a moderate-length neck. He has a beak filled with sharp teeth. As he landed on a massive heap of debris, the Dreki postured himself upright standing 106 feet tall and appearing at 140-inch length. His wingspan was 220 inches.

"So, any ideas, maidens?" Víðarr queried to the three Valkyries.

"I suggest we clip his wings and keep the fight ground-based," Eir stated.

"Let me take out his wings," Ölrún offered as she took out four runic arrows.

Flapping his wings, Wivern let out high-pitched bellows as a defensive call. The power from his wing flaps sent the four flying back. Wivern stopped flapping his wings and flew into the air. The sound of his flight was akin to an air jet. He generated a sonic boom that wiped out houses in his path.

Víðarr stood up and growled. "This beast toys with us! Let us finish this, maidens!"

Eir readied her staff. Göndul put on fighting gloves. Ölrún armed a bow with a runic arrow. Víðarr took on a battle stance with energy flowing through his body.

"Here he comes back around!" Göndul directed the party's gaze to Wivern swerving around and preparing for a divebomb.

As Wivern dove to grab one of them, the four warriors moved away. Eir fired an ethereal beam from her staff, which caused a tree to pop out from the ground. It only briefly held Wivern back as the Dreki crashed through it. Gliding backward and luring Wivern toward her, Eir continued conjuring giant tree stems to slow down Wivern. Upon slowing the Dreki, Eir's staff fired a beam into Wivern's chest. Wivern let out a pained bellow and lunged for the Healing Valkyrie. Eir conjured a magic shield to hold Wivern back.

"Eir!" Víðarr yelled as he sprinted steadfastly across several rooftops. Using his own running momentum, Víðarr jumped and launched himself onto Wivern. He then unleashed a flurry of fast punches, unleashing enough force to tear through the skin of Wivern's left wing.

Wivern screeched and turned his sights on Víðarr, who punched the behemoth's leg. While this didn't have anywhere near the potency to break the Dreki's leg, it momentarily paralyzed it and made Wivern a sitting Wivern.

"I hast stunned him. Go for it, Göndul!" Víðarr shouted.

Suddenly, the earth started to shake around Wivern. The Dreki saw Göndul planting her feet on the ground and creating earthquakes by manipulating the earth. She executed Jörð's Earthshaker, a technique passed to her by Jörð the Earthshaker Valkyrie from the First Generation. With some hand motions, the Masculine Valkyrie gathered rubble. She amassed this rubble into three giant boulders.

She jumped up and kicked the first boulder, which collided with Wivern. She kicked and battered him with the second boulder. For good measure, she landed a powerful roundhouse kick and sent the third boulder into Wivern's head. This managed to daze the Dreki, allowing Ölrún to spring out of nowhere and fire a flurry of arrows. Her Agilaz's Volley quickly exploded with flames and pierced all over Wivern's body. Flames spread all over and burned Wivern's chest. However, the Huntress Valkyrie wasn't done yet as she fired one specialized arrow imbued with immense magical properties. She aimed for Wivern's other wing, but the Dreki's paralyzed leg was able to move.

Wivern flapped his one good wing and knocked Ölrún back. Göndul managed to earth-bend a rock barrier, protecting her from Wivern's wing attack.

Víðarr called Eir to fly him over Wivern. As the Healing Valkyrie swooped in and carried him over Wivern, Víðarr let go and dropped on the Dreki's back. He climbed up on Wivern's left side and dug his fingers into the Dreki's good wing side. He located and tampered with the Dreki's pressure points, paralyzing the ability to move his wing.

"That shouldst do it!" Víðarr yelled as Wivern turned his head and snapped at him. His beak managed to stab Víðarr's left eg.

"Víðarr!" Eir wailed as she blasted Wivern's face with a beam from her staff. She quickly collected Víðarr.

"Thou art finished now!" Göndul fiercely yelled. She dashed forward at quick speeds and unloaded a barrage of punches. Her gloved fists' hardened like steel as her blows became faster and devastating. She then hit and broke off the Wivern's bottom jaw beak with a kick from a backflip. She then landed a roundhouse kick to the side of Wivern's head.

After pummeling Wivern with her Rocky Beat Rush, Ölrún fired her specialized arrow, Crippling Shot, as it pierced through Wivern's chest. It did more than just cripple the Dreki but destroyed his heart. Blood exploded from Wivern's chest. He collapsed and fell dead.

"And it is done," the Huntress Valkyrie said, kneeling to catch her breath.

Eir set Víðarr down and started healing him.

"It will be ok, Víðarr. Just stay still," Eir kindly said as her healing closed the wound on Víðarr's leg. "Dost not worry. I shalt heal the rest of thee." She then felt Víðarr hold her hand.

"Thank thee, Eir. Thou come through for me when I need it most."

The Healing Valkyrie genuinely smiled at him. "Thou need not thank me."

Göndul placed a foot on Wivern's head. "So, what shalt we do now? The Great Drekar art no more."

Eir sighed. "Well, I know Loki is not happy with this."

Víðarr added. "He knew there was no choice. They hadst to be put down for attacking Asgard."

Just then, the other parties arrived to meet with Víðarr's group.

"These sections of Asgard hast been ravaged, but fortunately most of the citizens fled," Thor reported. "Sadly the same can not be said for the ones lost."

Brynhildr licked her lips. "Can we just devour them? I am hungry!"

Loki became appalled by this. "What?! Art thou mad?! They may be monsters, but they art my grandchildren! Someone talk some sense into her…!"

Thrúd raised a hand. "Sounds like a good idea. Father, we shouldst make a feast out of them!"

Thor laughed. "Now, that is the spirit! Let us invite Asgardians and Einherjar to join us for a celebratory feast in Valhalla!"

Brynhildr declared. "I shalt devour the three-headed one!"

Göndul shrugged. "Eat Dreki meat? I thinkest not."

As half of the group were in merry spirits over the big feast, a few, namely Eir, Víðarr, Göndul, and Skögul, were not thrilled with devouring tainted Dreki flesh. Loki hysterically sobbed as he placed his hand on Wivern's carcass.

"Forgive me, my grandchildren. I vow to not eat thy flesh!"

Brynhildr slapped Loki's back. "Come on, quit crying and be fukka merry!"

"Leave me alone!"

---

Asgard/Valhalla

After the battle with the Great Drekar, the Asgardians and the Einherjar had a celebration party and feast in the majestic halls of Valhalla. They kicked off their celebratory feast by devouring Sæhrímnir, a large boar that's killed nearly every night for the Æsir and Einherjar alike. Andhrímnir, the humble and loyal chef for the Æsir and Einherjar, killed the boar and fed it to them. He also produced the Æsir's mead from the milk of Læraðr's Capra. The remains of the Great Drekar were cooked and placed next to Sæhrímnir along with other food and drinks.

"Thou hast done well to slay the Great Drekar and provide their meat for us to feast on!" The Allfather hailed and praised the efforts of his subjects.

"Now let us drink, feast, and be merry!" An overly enthused Thor declared, lifting a mug full of mead. He sat beside his two goats: Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. The two goats had matching white fur with peach and beige spectacled markings. They have yellow eyes. They stood 3'2 in height and 5'7 in length. Also sitting beside the Thunder God was his horse Gullfaxi, a peach-furred equine with bronze eyes and a golden mane. The horse was a decent 6'5 in height and 8'5 in length.

As the goats bleated to the Thunder God, Thor openly grinned and patted their sides.

"Hahah, not to worry, Magni and Móði. Thou shalt not go without fulfilling thy purpose," Thor eyed his goats hungrily. Then, he lifted his hammer, bashing them both in their skulls with it. After killing the goats, he had them cooked by Andhrímnir. The cook returned with goat meat for Thor, who then disgustingly devoured the two goats. He ground off the meat from the ribs of the goats. As he ate merrily, his lips were covered with sickly meat bits and blood.

The putrid smell of the Drekar meat bothered the trickster, who eyed his colleagues eating his grandsons. He pivoted over to Thor and sighed in disgust.

"Thor, thou realize thee eating thy two sons?" Loki reminded the hungry Thunder God, who responded with a hearty laugh.

"Yes, but not to worry, they will be revived good as new after this feast is done."

Loki mumbled. "I can only imagine how poor Magni and Móði feel after being devoured by their own father."

Just then, Brynhildr shoved some of Wivern's meat in the trickster's face.

"Hey, Loki! Shut up and fukka eat!"

"Ah! Dost not tell me that is…!" Loki quickly flinched and beckoned her away.

"Yeah, one of thy grandsons."

"No, I refuse!" Loki refused to accept Brynhildr's offer.

"Hn, thy fukka loss then! More for me!" Brynhildr then ravenously bit into the burned meat of the slain Dreki and devoured him like a hungry beast. As she bit off fleshy chunks from the Dreki's bone, the Blood Valkyrie's face was soaked in meat juice.

Most of the other Asgardians and Einherjar showed a lack of table manners. Not only were their manners appalling, but they made complete slobs out of themselves. They consumed the meat like pigs and drank the mead until the wells were dry. Out of the few that maintained their table manners include Víðarr, Eir, Göndul, and Skögul. The latter two lesbians refused to be seen devouring tainted meat like the Dreki in front of their peers, instead choosing to eat other food beautifully.

By devouring the Great Drekar, the Asgardians and Einherjar are eating the World Snake's children, which perturbed Loki.

"Consider this retribution for the World Snake making a fool out of thee!" Thor boasted, throwing a piece of Wivern's leg bone away. "Jörmungandr makes a fool of me, I slay one of his own kin!"

Upon hearing this, Loki grumbled. "...and thou celebrate killing his children and my grandchildren. Hast thee no shame?"

"None whatsoever, Loki!" Thor declared.

Thrúd hollered and raised a piece of Wyrm's ribs. "Well said, father! They attacked Asgard with no provocation!"

Brynhildr added. "Fukka yeah! We showed them!"

Víðarr sighed as he ate some bread. "Thou shouldst show manners. Thou hast make thyselves eat like slobs?"

Eir concurred with Víðarr's sentiments. "Even I am losing my appetite."

A few others, while not quite possessing the horrid table manners, simply nibbled their shares of Dreki and boar meat. Mist was one who kept to herself and meekly ate her fill. The other Valkyries like Sigrún, Geirdriful, and Ölrún ate normally while not completely making slobs out of themselves.

Odin, not one to turn down a big feast, sloppily devours huge slabs of Dreki and boar meat. Even his white beard became stained with brown from the animal meat juice and blood. After downing several cups of mead, he reached over for a third helping of Dreki meat, but someone grabbed the piece of meat before he could claim it. He raised his eye level to Brynhildr, who tore the meat away from his grasp.

"Heh, hands off my helping, ya fukken old man! I saw it first!" Brynhildr openly chided Odin. She then taunted him by hanging the piece of meat in front of him. He glared angrily at the Blood Valkyrie and watched her ravenously devour what could've been his meal.

What could've ended up a tense moment was alleviated when Einherjar played relaxing music. The sound of horns, harmonicas, and accordions played merry themes for the Asgardians and Einherjar to dance to. Some started to get up and dance to their heart's content. Odin watched some of his subjects indulge in dancing. Víðarr invited Eir to the dance area. Likewise, Göndul and Skögul gyrated their bodies against each other as other songs were played to their suit musical tastes.

"Hey, wouldst thou care for a dance?" Thrúd offered a hand to Mist, who was taken aback by her colleague's dance offer.

"Oh… sure," Mist meekly nodded and took Thrúd's hand.

The same thing happened when Ölrún offered to dance with Geirdriful. Watching nearly all of her Valkyrie cohorts on the dance floor, Brynhildr had an idea and turned to Sigrún. Sigrún had gotten up to get another glass of mead. She got up and followed her.

Following the jovial and celebratory ceremonies, a hedonistic vibe filled the atmosphere.

Having danced to their heart's content, Víðarr and Eir lovingly held each other. They stared into their eyes and kissed. The lovers walked away from the Valhalla halls. When he carried Eir in his arms, the Healing Valkyrie had an arm around him and locked lips with him.

Göndul and Skögul decided to take their love-making approach to their own seclusion. Skögul suggested to her lover to use her Selkie Shrine, which Göndul agreed to. As the two prepared to make their leave, they bumped into Freyja, who had just gotten another cup of mead.

Freyja quickly turned and scoffed. "Oh, it is thee two." She didn't pay them much mind. Freyja the Love Valkyrie was known for her indomitable beauty, which she considered unmatched by any, including her late sister Frigg. Being one of the First Generation Valkyries, she has since retired from active duty and enjoys self-indulgence in her own secluded temple. She even kept half of the Einherjar to indulge in happy sex with.

The love goddess's presence was exuded by her long back length honey blonde-haired, brown eyes, and rosy cheeks. The back of her hair had braided knots. Hanging beside the sides of her face are two long braided bangs. She wore a white and gold gown with elaborate designs, including a golden Yggdrasil design embroidered on the gown's center area. She was also barefooted.

"Hey, who dost thou thinkest thee art?!" Göndul snarled as she grabbed Freyja's shoulder and turned her around. "Thou not show us proper respect?"

Freyja scoffed haughtily. "Respect for who? Thou two highfalutin brutish boars?!"

Taking this verbal jab as an insult to her beauty, Skögul walked over and pushed Freyja back. "Who art thou calling us brutish boars? When our beauty far surpasses thine?" She got right into Freyja's face.

As the lesbian Valkyries confronted Freyja, Mist approached to get a cup of mead for herself. She heard the two verbally insult Freyja and joined in.

"Thy beauty days art behind thee, old hag! My feminine beauty far surpasses thine, Love Valkyrie!" Skögul insulted Freyja.

Covering her cheeks, Freyja was not one to hear anyone insult her beauty. When she tried to attack Skögul, Göndul interceded and pushed her back. Freyja then bumped into Mist, who pushed her away.

"Thou still going about thy beauty, Auntie Freyja? Dost thou not get tired of hearing thyself talk?" Mist chimed in, adding her disparaging remarks at the Love Valkyrie's expense.

"Mist, thou art being a brat to me?! Dost thou want me to tell thy mother, Róta, thou disrespect thy auntie?!" Freyja conveyed an ugly pettiness toward Mist's snide remarks. She then turned to the lesbians. "And I am appalled thou art even half-Vanir. My beauty shouldst hast greatly surpassed thy mediocre appearances!"

Göndul added with an arrogant smirk. "And thou art too old and fragile to try fighting any of us. Myself, my lover, and the pint-sized brat with a flat chest can beat thee in a fight nowadays, old woman."

"Yes indeed…!" Then Mist just realized the Masculine Valkyrie insulted her breast size. "Hey!" Her face reddened as she insecurely covered her chest area. It became painfully clear where Mist got her brattiness and insecure pettiness from.

Twirling a princess curl in her finger, Skögul gave a haughty chortle. "Hahah, yes the brat here can best thee nowadays, but I suppose relaxing in thy secluded temple for so long hath softened thy image that thy powers hast diminished." She got around behind Freyja and whispered in her ear. "Oh, art those wrinkles I see on thee, thy washed-up hag?" She licked her glossy lips while saying this disparaging remark.

That disparaging remark was more than enough to set off Freyja's fury like an erupting volcano. Freyja screamed with loud rage that Asgard's halls shook. Her rosy cheeks turned blood red to match the red that covered her face.

"THOU THREE ART GOING TO BURN IN HEL FOR DISRESPECTING MY DIVINE BEAUTY!" Freyja roared as her eyes burned with fury. As she screamed with fury, her voice cracked and deepened as if she had somehow been possessed by a being from Hel's Helheim realm. "BECAUSE I WILL HAPPILY SEND THEE THREE TO MEET WITH MY OLD FRIEND HEL RIGHT NOW! SHE WILL GLADLY TORTURE THEE THREE FOR ETERNITY!"

Göndul, Skögul, and Mist quickly backed away, but it was Mist who scurried away faster than the eye could see. Thor, Loki, and Heimdallr intervened to pull Freyja apart from the lesbian Valkyries, who backed away both chortling. Heimdallr pivoted to his daughter, Skögul, who walked away laughing with her masculine lover.

"LET ME AT THOSE TWO BEASTS! I WILL FLAY THEM DOWN TO THEIR BONES!"

Another individual joined in to help restrain Freyja. It was Thor's wife, Sif, who had long back length golden hair with a bun at the top of her head. Her eyes are hazel. She wore a revealing purple gown with a golden buckle fastened around the waist that held a strap on her right shoulder and left her left shoulder bare. She was two inches taller than Freyja, but even she couldn't resist the Love Valkyrie's furious strength overpowering her.

Thor tried to console her. "EASY FREYJA! THEY ART RUDE…!" However, he got slapped hard by Freyja.

"DOST NOT THINK I HAST FORGOTTEN THEE DISGUISED AS ME, THOR!"

Hearing this, Loki and a few others broke out into laughter as they recalled Thor disguising himself as Freyja in Jötunheim. As Freyja continued screaming, her necklace, Brísingamen, broke off from her neck. Thor recognized this being the device that allowed him to take on Freyja's appearance. Odin paid little mind to all this ruckus and finished his last mead for the evening.

---

Asgard/Brynhildr and Sigrún's Quarters

As tension with Freyja cooled, many of the Asgardians and Einherjar left Valhalla in droves, leaving a mess for Andhrímnir to clean up.

In order to relieve from today's battles and have another typical confrontation with Odin, Brynhildr searched for Sigrún. As she arrived near her private quarters, she heard someone walking by and slipped behind a door. She saw Sigrún walking by without a care. Then, a perverted thought crossed the Blood Valkyrie's mind.

"Brynhildr? Art thou there?" Sigrún queried for a response. Nothing. She asked again and poked her head inside her friend's private quarters. She shrugged and turned away.

Suddenly, a hand clamped over Sigrún's mouth as she was pulled into the quarters. Sigrún struggled to break loose, but she saw who it was holding her. It was Brynhildr, who leaned over and smelled Sigrún's neck.

"Where art thou going? I was here waiting for thee, Sigrún," Brynhildr kissed and licked the meek Sigrún's face.

"Br-Brynhildr, I didst not realize thee be here."

The Blood Valkyrie wore a devilish grin and turned Sigrún around. The Valkyries stared into each other's eyes. Brynhildr's eyes diverted from her friend's face down to her waist. Much to Sigrún's surprise, Brynhildr aggressively forced herself onto the Radiance Valkyrie. She pressed and rubbed her crotch against Sigrún's.

"Brynhildr…" Sigrún gasped as she seemed to struggle, but Brynhildr refused to let go. "Not now. Please."

"Come. Thou know thee wants to," the Blood Valkyrie teased her. "Why even bother coming into our private quarters?"

Hearing this, Sigrún realized she had been caught red-handed. A sneaky grin adorned the Radiance Valkyrie's face. Sigrún leaned over and threw her arms over Brynhildr's shoulders. She leaned in for a kiss, giving her full consent to the Blood Valkyrie. She willingly offered to let Brynhildr grope her in any fashion she pleases.

Brynhildr licked and sucked on Sigrún's neck. Sigrún jumped up, folding her legs around Brynhildr's waist. They fell on top of their bed. Sigrún sat on top of Brynhildr and undid her upper body armor, revealing her well-endowed breasts. Mesmerized by the Radiance Valkyrie's bouncy breasts, Brynhildr caressed her friend's breasts. Sigrún threw her head back and panted sensually. Brynhildr unbuckled Sigrún's light brown loincloth, revealing rose-embroidered panties. Brynhildr slipped her fingers inside Sigrún and fingered her with pleasure. Sigrún felt the Blood Valkyrie thrusting her finger inside her clitoris. Sigrún gave an erotic moan and spilled juices from her groin, wetting her panties. Some juices spilled over Brynhildr's face and mouth.

"Sorry, Brynhildr… I didst not mean…"

Brynhildr licked her friend's juices. "No, we will keep going. I am going to pleasure thee all night." She then took off her own armor and clothing, leaving only her chainmail on. She slipped off the chainmail covering her upper body, showing off her slightly smaller breasts, which were half the size that Sigrún had.

"I will not leave thee disappointed."

"Let me fukka thee good." Brynhildr got on top of Sigrún and kissed her, slipping a tongue inside her mouth. Brynhildr grabbed the back of Sigrún's buttocks and leaned against her. The two Valkyries continued their love-making fest for the rest of the night.

---

Asgard/Landvidi

In Víðarr's quarters that's decorated with beautiful greenwood, Víðarr and Eir passionately kissed one another. Eir leaned over, putting her arms over Víðarr's shoulders. She had her hands on his face and leaned in for a deeper kiss. Víðarr helped undo her upper body armor, revealing her moderate-sized breasts. She took Víðarr's right hand and placed it over her left breast. Víðarr grasped it gently, eliciting a smile and making her moan ever softly.

"My body is thine for the taking, Víðarr," Eir offered herself to him.

"I love thee, Eir," Víðarr leaned over to kiss the Healing Valkyrie.

As they locked lips, Eir undid his pants and reached down to grab his hardening penis. She looked down smiling as she gave him a hand job. Víðarr gritted and groaned. After a few thrusts, Víðarr ejaculated on Eir's divine body. Víðarr then fell on Eir, pushing her onto his bed. He took off her long battle dress and undid her white panties shaped like a butterfly's wings. He mounted Eir and slowly shoved his penis inside the Healing Valkyrie. He then thrust inside her several times. Eir gripped the sheets of the bed and let out loud erotic moans. As he continued shoving his penis through her clitoris, Eir wet herself as juices spilled and wet the bed sheets. Víðarr leaned over and licked her nipples, making her shiver with delight.

"And I love thee, too, Víðarr," Eir replied as she and Víðarr continued their erotic evening.

---

Asgard/Selkie Shrine

Göndul and Skögul entered an ancient Egyptianesque temple with statues and decorums with visages of seals. The entire shrine was a rather elaborate shrine dedicated to seals.

Skögul slowly walked over to a bed covered with glittery gold. A golden seal statue was situated on the opposite left of her bed. Having gotten out of her battle armor, Skögul wore a see-through white gown, revealing her exotic and soft, glossy russet-skinned body. She also wore an Egyptian-styled headpiece which was glimmering with gold. She grabbed a cup of red wine and drank some.

"Well, what art thou waiting for, my love?" Skögul teased, opening up her gown to flash her nude body to Göndul. "It is just us. No one less beautiful can see us now."

Hearing this, Göndul shared a sensual smile. She took off her ash gray battle armor, her sole burgundy shoulder armor, and her facial mask. Outside of her gladiator-styled armor sandals, the Masculine Valkyrie was buck-naked. She flexed her muscular body and showed off her impressive six-pack abdominal muscles, all crafted through rigorous physical training and a healthy diet. She gained this magnificent body all to impress her lover.

The vain lovers approached each other and held each other's hands lovingly. They leaned over and kissed. The Feminine Valkyrie invited her masculine lover to her bed. Göndul took off Skögul's gown and kissed her neck. Skögul folded her legs around Göndul's waist.

"We showed that fool Freyja our beauty will never be surpassed. Dost thou think, my love?" Skögul asked collectively and arrogantly.

Göndul smirked smugly. "Fukka that bikkje. We art all that matters, Skögul." She grasped Skögul's left breast and kissed her.

The two narcissistic lovers continued their erotic pleasures through the rest of the evening.

---

Asgard/Mist's Quarters

Elsewhere, Mist wandered around toward her quarters. As she reached the area near her quarters, she saw Thrúd standing outside the door as if she were waiting for her. Thrúd tossed a coin in the air and caught it with one hand. She kept doing this, distracting Mist.

"What art thou doing here, Thrúd? Um, art thou not able to sleep?" The Shroud Valkyrie meekly queried to her.

"Heh, no I hast not," Thrúd turned around and smirked to Mist. "I was waiting for thee."

"I see," Mist walked over and grasped her hands. "Thou hast been such a good friend. Thou art, unlike those two narcissistic cretins."

"Hey, never lump me in with those two. I dost care for thee. We art friends, right?"

Hearing this, Mist warmed up to Thrúd's kind words. She opened the door and invited the Storm Valkyrie into her quarters. Thrúd walked in and sat on a chair.

"Mist, didst I ever tell thee about Alvíss?"

"I thinkest so, but I dost not remember."

The Storm Valkyrie sighed. "He was a dwarf my father tried to entice me to marry. Things didst not turn out as arranged because my father didst not like our match."

Mist listened. "I see. And what happened?"

"Father devised a plan to test Alvíss's wisdom and this is due to his small height. Alvíss agreed to father's test and those lasted until dawn. Well, since the test lasted into the morning…"

Mist rolled her eyes. "He turned to stone?"

"Yes, because he was a dwarf! Father fooled him well and he spared me marrying that dwarf," Thrúd got up as she walked up to Mist, who meekly looked away and blushed. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," Mist's cheeks reddened. She took a deep breath and slowly disrobed her upper body. She sneaked a peek at her small breasts, which she covered up again.

Thrúd chuckled. "What is wrong? It is ok to show them. I will not tease thee." She leaned over and kissed Mist's cheek. "I promise."

After that kiss, Mist gained some confidence and took off her upper body armor. She only had on chainmail armor that covered her flat chest. She then took off her chainmail armor, revealing a green bra that covered her flat chest. However, despite being small, her breasts were noticeable lumps. Thrúd assisted in disrobing Mist's bra. Thrúd cupped Mist's chest and kissed her neck. Mist kissed Thrúd's lips. Entranced by Mist's flat-chested breasts, the Storm Valkyrie started licking and sucking her friend's nipples. Blushing, Mist felt turned on by her friend's sensual and gentle touch.

As Thrúd continued caressing her, Mist felt most of her insecurities being lifted out of her body. It was like a heavy burden being taken out of her. She needed it. Mist then wrapped her arms over Thrúd's neck and passionately kissed her. They lip and tongue locked with each other. Thrúd leaned her hands behind Mist's ponytail and loosened the hair band, letting her friend's hair loose. Mist smiled and made out with Thrúd. Thrúd held her right hand on Mist's back while her left slid down the Shroud Valkyrie's battle dress and caressed Mist's petite butt.

"Thou hast such a cute and firm butt, Mist," Thrúd whispered in her friend's ear, who smiled and undid Thrúd's ponytail, loosening her long strawberry-blonde hair.

Thrúd and Mist got on the latter's bed as they made out.

---

Asgard/Garden

Ölrún and Geirdriful sat together and gazed at a rich elaborately decorated garden. They held each other's hands as they enjoyed the nightly breeze. However, they didn't just come out to enjoy the peaceful evening environment. They had their futures already set in mind.

"Ölrún, I know we art in a relationship, but I thinkest...:"

"Yes, Geirdriful?"

The Thread Valkyrie genuinely smiled at her friend. "We shouldst find a husband for us."

The Huntress Valkyrie mulled over this. "I see. So, thou hast decided who it will be?"

"Yes. Remember Egil?"

Upon hearing this, Ölrún smiled as she seemingly approved of the choice.

---

Asgard/Brynhildr and Sigrún's Quarters

Brynhildr and Sigrún finished their all-nighter love fest. They lay opposite from each other in bed. Some ambitious thoughts crossed in Brynhildr's mind.

"Sigrún."

"Yes, Brynhildr?"

"I am finally going to put my plan into motion."

Sigrún glanced over to the Blood Valkyrie. "And that is?"

A sadistic grin formed on Brynhildr's face. "The time I finally oust that petty old fukka and take the throne for thyself and bring a new order to Asgard."

Hearing this, Sigrún was apprehensive. "That is bold, but how will thee succeed? Allfather is all-powerful."

"He hath grown tired from age and stress. Eventually, he shalt fall. So, why not strike now and spill his blood? Neither of his sons will take the throne. It shouldst be I, Brynhildr, to take my place as the powerful Allmother." Brynhildr raised a hand and clenched it tightly. "I foresee great changes and the old timer's fukka time in the sun will be long done!"

---

Dimension: Akane-no-Mai/Yggdrasil/Urðarbrunnr

Placing the visual on a brief reprieve, Sága faced the guests, who were a mix of bewildered and aghast over what they had seen. Most wouldn't believe they were watching real-life events play out as they truly happened in Wulf-Edda's Norse world.

"Tell us what thou all think so far?" Harald asked the Thieves and Revenants.

"One question! Are the words 'fukka' and 'bikkje' what I think they are?" Futaba asked the Homo Yggr and Asgardians in the room. "The way Brynhildr and some of them were saying those words gave me the impression they're derogatory words."

Yusuke sighed. "If you're looking for an answer, yes, it's what you think."

Io nodded. "Yes, in the modern English language, they mean the derogatory words 'fuck' and 'bitch'. Though, the latter also identifies the female sex of a canine."

Futaba snapped her fingers. "I knew it! I didn't even need to study an old language to know that!"

Hifumi turned to Io. "And for my sake, I hope you don't use those words often."

Skyler shrugged. "I don't have any problems."

"But, can you imagine our pure Io talking like Brynhildr?"

Skyler and Hifumi both nodded as Io looked at them dumbfoundedly.

"Some of these Norse folk act so pompous," Sumire observed.

"Quite so, but I do like this version of Loki," Akechi stated.

"Not because he shares your codename?" Jacob sardonically remarked.

"No, that's a good observation. Most of these people talk and act so arrogantly. It's annoying," Tori remarked.

"That boy had guts throwing a rock at Odin of all people," Lance said.

"It's a good thing Odin didn't kill him," Cammy said.

"Considering the bad mood he was in, I'm surprised!" Andrea exclaimed.

"That kid got off way too easy," Marty added.

"That's true, but we did get to see Thor, Loki, Odin, and Thor's brother who I never heard about until now," Ryuji said.

Morgana chuckled. "You were still expecting Loki to be Thor's brother, weren't you?"

"Not anymore after what I heard."

"As much as I love seeing badass warrior women, half of those Valkyries came off as asshoes," Leonard confessed his disappointment. "Even worse that they're the same Valkyries we fought."

"I still can't believe it's them," Makoto frowned.

"Asgard has seen better days, hasn't it?" Kaito pointed out Asgard's apparent fall into debauchery.

"Well, I would think every kingdom in human history went through such golden and decaying, decadent periods," Yusuke elaborated.

"True, but you'd think gods with their longer lifespans would use that time to maintain their own properties?" Ann pointed out.

"That's just it. They probably didn't care. You saw how arrogant they came off," Haru said. "Especially those two Valkyries that me and Mako-chan fought."

"Göndul and Skögul, and believe me we hast not gotten to the worst parts involving those two imbeciles," Skuld said with anger in her tone.

"We shalt get to them again. Believe me, thou hast not seen anything yet," Sága forewarned the guests.

"Well, so far, their arrogant demeanor doesn't paint a good impression of them so far," Makoto openly stated her stance on them. "But, I did notice those two didn't come off as team players with their colleagues."

"Yet, the ones we faced had no qualms with working as a unit," Haru realized.

"Yes, because the entity that possessed them and the other Valkyries are acting singularly-minded," Anastasia stated.

"Kind of like a hive mind mentality. Whereas in these scenes from the past, there seemed to be less camaraderie with these Valkyries," Skyler said.

"Certainly some of them showed us their own self-interests if that Brynhildr was anything to go by," Hifumi added, illustrating the Blood Valkyrie's intent to take Odin's throne.

"Geez, speaking of Brynhildr, she was a penchant for violence and blood, wasn't she?" Morgana said, describing Brynhildr's violent and blood-lusted personality.

"Her attitude sure reminded me of that Spartan guy. Kratos? Yeah, that's the one! From the God of War games! Dudes, don't tell me she actually went through with killing Odin?" Ryuji said, glancing toward everyone, but getting no immediate responses.

Ann sighed. "How the hell are we supposed to know? Not all of us play those types of games."

"She and Odin certainly aren't fond of each other, but I wonder what spurred their initial conflicts?" Leonard deduced the reasoning behind Brynhildr's madness.

"I admit she looks vicious, but Brynhildr looked really cool in battle. I do hope I can meet her," Aslaug said, seemingly admiring Brynhildr.

"Believe me. After what you saw here and some of us have fought a zombified version of her, you don't want to meet this 'hero'. She ain't no 'hero'," Tori said, referring to her recent fights against Brynhildr.

"You might be disappointed in what else you might learn about her," Hiroshi added.

"Oh, well maybe I shouldn't get too excited?" Aslaug looked down with disenchantment.

"Man, forget that! Oh my god, did you see those battles?! I knew there had to be dragons in this world!" Futaba exuberantly cried out.

"Even though they didn't look like your traditional-looking medieval dragons," Jacob pointed out. "Now, I can see how that one Valkyrie I fought gave my Successor of the Drake form so much trouble."

Madeline nodded. "These maidens have been trained to fight such creatures."

"Yeah, but dudes, don't you find it fucked up those Dreki whatever are Loki's grandsons? Who're the freaking parents?!" Ryuji found his mind being overclocked while trying to figure out the Great Drekar origins.

Yusuke added. "Don't try to think about it too much."

Jacob chuckled. "Just know if you're delving into ancient mythologies, there's a ton of fucked up shit that'll have you questioning for days."

Ren added. "We shouldn't surprised those Vamkyries gave us issues. If Skyler and I hadn't figured out that ring Brynhildr wore was their power source, I don't think we'd be here talking about them."

"Speaking of that ring, I wonder if we'll see it in these flashbacks?" Skyler speculated, eliciting worrisome glances from the sage, the Norns, and the three husbands.

"Can we talk about how overall arrogant, petty, and peevish some of them seemed to be?" Rachel pointed out their characteristic flaws.

"Yes, that was how the higher classes generally often behaved," Skuld stated. "Our people while prideful as warriors, we maintained and embraced humility."

Samantha smiled. "In a way, like my people and other indigenous tribes from my country."

"These Asgardians just love petty quarrels and my god, their table manners are appalling," Haru conveyed her disgust at their lack of self-respect.

"Well, most of them anyway," Ann added. "I saw some in there as disgusted as we were."

"If anything, it illustrated to us what medieval life may have been like without the monsters, sorcery, and stuff," Ren stated.

"Watching all that did remind me of scenes straight out of that Game of Thrones show," Akechi pointed out. "Have any of you seen that series?"

There was a show of hands from half of the Thieves and the Revenants.

"Yeah, I watched some of that show, but kinda lost track after a while," Kaito said. "Rebecca had to catch me up on some parts."

"I enjoyed watching that show for a while when I could watch it," Haru replied.

"I was able to watch it all the way through," Huey said.

"Oh yes, Huey and I would sit together on Sundays for what he calls 'appointment TV'," giggled Samantha.

"I watched up until the last couple of seasons, but I'd need to catch up. My studies took priority over most of my leisure activities," Leonard said.

"Pftt, man. I saw the whole show," Futaba boasted. "Even that last season. Man, talk about a cold ending."

"Uh, I think you mean cool, Futaba?" Yusuke tried correcting her.

"No, I know what I said, Inari. It was a cold ending. The very opposite of cool and not because it snowed a lot in that show."

Eavesdropping on their conversation, Urðr curiously interjected. "What is this Game of Thrones thou art discussing?"

Verðandi rolled her eyes. "Just leave them alone, Urðr. It dost not concern us."

"But, I am curious."

"Perhaps it is some tale from their world."

Ann spoke up. "Can I say I wasn't expecting that much sex in there?"

Ryuji chuckled. "Yeah, I damn! They really got busy during those times."

Makoto scoffed. "Like human nature isn't any different in modern times?"

Skuld turned to Harald. "Well, that is nothing compared to what Harald and I do when no one is looking."

Fang shrugged. "And that wouldst explain how me, Blue, and Cheza were born."

Shaking her head, Rachel remarked. "I don't know how you could do all that without protection."

Leonard added. "Because either they didn't believe in it or stuff like condoms didn't exist yet."

Sága nodded. "I couldst hast used magic to ensure I never hadst children after mating with my husbands, but I chose to bear their children." She turned to Skuld, Urðr, and Verðandi. "I wouldst not trade these three for my selfish desires."

Harald grasped Skuld's hand. "And if Lady Sága hadst not given birth to these three, I wouldst not met my wife here, whom I rescued from a Hlaup Hooded Viper."

Skuld genuinely smiled at her husband. "I foolishly ventured off after an argument with my mother. Then, that serpent ambushed me when I hadst my guard down. I wouldst hast died from its poison if you hadst not saved me, Harald."

"Thou leaving from a fallout with thy mother led us being together, my love," Harald said, kissing Skuld's lips.

"Thank thee. And our love produced us three beautiful children."

After listening to their parent's story, Fang, Blue, and Cheza warmly smiled.

"Well, all of those sex scenes reminded me of those fanfics I used to write way back then," Tori revealed, much to her colleagues' surprise.

"Hold on, you used to write fanfics?" Ryuji asked her.

"Heh, something you want to share with the class? Hmmm?" Futaba asked Tori with shifty eyes.

"What did you use to write about?" Sumire curiously asked Tori.

"Well, a few love stories here and there, but a friend and I co-wrote some silly crossover with anime characters from a bunch of series," Tori chuckled nervously, recalling humble memories. "It was stupid and kinda embarrassing."

"Embarrassing, you say? Were they those Yaoi and Yuri-styled fics? Man, that takes me back to reading that stuff while I was still a shut-in."

"I don't even want to know how many you've read, Futaba," Yusuke sighed.

"I had a lot of time on my hands, Inari before I met you guys. I needed something to keep me distracted if I wasn't hacking away."

"Do you still have contact with this friend?" Haru queried.

Sighing, Tori nodded dismissively. "Nah, we don't have contact. I won't reveal his name, but he used to go by Lazarus-Vârcolac. I would talk more about it, but it's not something I look back fondly on."

"If that's what you don't want to share," Makoto said.

However, Hiroshi and Aslaug noticed Tori visibly gnashing her teeth and shaking her hands. She seemingly couldn't contain whatever she was holding back and shook her head.

"No, I might as well get this off my chest. He and I worked on a couple of crossover fanfics based on some '90s and early-2000s anime. I thought we had something great going with this mega-crossover thing. We were pretty ambitious and I got to know him better. We exchanged ideas, though he was more of the idea guy and I was the writer. All was well, but then as we went far with our stories, we started butting heads," Tori revealed her life story as a former fanfic writer. "That's when things went sour and we had creative differences. That led to us stubbornly fighting over what ideas worked. And even when I tried talking about other things unrelated to our projects, he was fixated on these fucking stories that he only saw me as a fic writer and not a person. That arrogant jerk would actually insult me and call me stupid whenever I did something wrong! That led to me losing interest and our falling out! We cussed each other out, and boy was it intense! I cut ties with him and disavowed those shitty stories! I think I might've deleted some of those crappy stories! That dumbass motherfucker can shove it as far as I'm concerned!" She growled intensely, venting out her unbridled frustrations over her ex-friend. "Ugh, even thinking about it now pisses me the fuck off! I vowed I never write another story again and that's when I moved on into the real world. It was time to reinvent myself and break away from an online persona. My original idea of becoming a famous and ambitious fanfic writer died when Lazarus-Vârcolac killed my creative passion. It also didn't help but I faced ridicule from some of my so-called fans. They thought my stories were becoming too silly and lame. I kinda agree with them. So, I turned away from writing for good. I decided I'd follow in my late dad's footsteps and become a police officer in his honor. At least, I'd hope I'd get more respect protecting lives, but that's a whole other story."

"We're not like regular police officers, Tori. We now work outside the law and help our friends," Makoto nodded. "I'm very sorry about that falling out."

"This Lazarus-Vârcolac sounds like an absolute asshole!" Ryuji blurted out.

"Oh, tell me he has a social media account," Futaba resisted the urge to hack him on Tori's behalf.

"Nah, please. This is between him and me. Don't get yourselves involved for me," Tori pleaded.

"He doesn't sound like a good friend," Aslaug frowned in disapproval.

"Funny enough, he was a Norse Mythology specialist. Ironically, the way Asgard's people have shown their arrogance and refuse to evolve with the times reminds me of his stubborn pride and refusal to listen to reason. His continued badgering with our stories didn't help me progress as a writer and a person. Although, I wonder if he's matured at all since I last talked to him."

"Why even bother? It doesn't sound like it's worth the effort if he's still the same stubborn jerk," Cammy said.

"It's up to you if you want to reconcile with that guy, Tori," Hiroshi said. "However, in my opinion, I don't think you should bother."

"Yeah, and ultimately it'll be my decision. All it takes is one email since I don't have Lazarus' personal contact info on me," Tori sighed deeply.

Aslaug quickly grabbed Tori's hands. "Do what you think is best, big sis Tori. If he says anything bad about you, I'll find him and beat him up."

"Please, don't, Aslaug," Tori chuckled amusedly. "But, thanks anyway. I know you're just looking out for me. This whole thing is just something stupid. Sorry for going off the rails like that."

"Sometimes we all need to vent over real world setbacks. We've all had our conflicts with certain individuals," Yusuke said.

"Yep, the rest of us can relate," Ann said.

"Welcome to the club, Tori. You're really just like one of us," Ryuji grinned.

"Gee, thanks," Tori chuckled.

"Don't worry. We won't ever ridicule you the way he did," Ren reassured her.

"That's right. We're here if you need to vent about that guy or anything else that comes to your mind," Makoto said, patting Tori's shoulder. "And this is the first I heard about your dad being the reason you joined the police force. Sounds like he and my dad would've had plenty of sit-downs over coffee."

"Thanks, Makoto," Tori said, feeling herself growing closer to Makoto and the others. "And let's hope both of us can help change the police system. Let's do it for our dads."

Makoto replied genuinely. "You and me both."

"We art sorry to hear about thee problems, Tori," Skuld expressed sympathies for her.

"No, it's ok. I'll recover from this," Tori kindly replied.

"And we're sorry for detracting from your story," Hifumi said.

"Please go on," Skyler added.

"If you will continue," Io addressed Sága.

Waving her staff, Sága prepared to continue recounting the events on the visual screen.

"It is quite alright. We hast all day. Shalt we continue, everyone?" The sage scanned the crowd, who eagerly quieted down. "And to answer thy concerns about that ring. Well, why dost not see for thyself?"

---

Chapter Soundtrack
Bear McCreary - Ashes - God of War OST - The introduction of the Wulf-Edda lore. The stories of Asgard's ages from the First to the Third Generation Valkyries, including Brynhildr's origins.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - Death or Sovngarde - Thor and Víðarr fight the invaders. Odin arrives to finish the invaders off.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - Imperial Throne - Odin's lecture towards his sons in needing assistance.
Odin Sphere OST - Valkyrie March - The nine maidens' personalities and reputations in Asgard as former Valkyries when they first physically appear in Odin's throne room.
Super Mario Odyssey Music - Ruined Dragon Appearance- The arrival of the Great Drekar, as the Asgardians hear their roars and Odin orders his forces to slay them.
Super Mario Odyssey OST - Ruined Dragon Battle- The Great Drekar's rampage in Asgard. The Valkyries and assistants prepare to battle against these beasts.
34. The Last Battle (M33) - Rebirth of Mothra 3 Complete Soundtrack OST - The Valkyries and assistants fighting and slaying the Great Drekar. Something idealistic in the glory days of Asgard despite some of the Valkyries (especially the lesbians) being pretentious douchebags. Kanius's words: The song piece you've picked makes the battle between the Valkyries and the Great Drekar epic-themed. The battle scenes would paint these Valkyries in a more positive light than what we'll learn of their real personalities.
Rebirth of Mothra Soundtrack - Battle of 65 Million Years Ago, Revisited- Fighting and slaying the Great Drekar.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - Dragonsreach - The Asgardian feast and celebrations after the Great Drekar are slain.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim OST - Ancient Stones - The Valkyries' dances during the celebrations. The lesbian Valkyries (and Mist) insulting Freyja.
Rejoice in Love - Fire Emblem Fates - The love of Eir and Víðarr.
Great Fairy Fountain - Zelda: Breath of the Wild Soundtrack - The Selkie Shrine. The lesbian Valkyries' lovemaking in the shrine.
God of War 3 OST - Aphrodite's Chamber - Brynhildr and Sigrún about to sleep together.
Age of Wonders 2 OST - Earth Song - Thrúd/Mist moments. Ölrún/Geirdriful moments.

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A/N: The Wulf-Edda tale begins and is it something you didn't expect? No tales of heroism and optimism here. It's gonna get gritty, dark, and full of sexual freaking energy. Believe me, things are about to go south for these Norse cast. Don't expect any Marvel or kiddie versions of Thor, Odin, Loki, and Valkyries here. And we've got a look at the Valkyries that would later become this story's Vamkyrie freaks.

What was not in the original version of the Wulf-Edda opener: the boy showing his resentment toward Odin. I had gotten feedback from a 'sample reader' and this person suggested I show (and not tell) why Odin was disliked by a segment of his people. So, I added this scene to set the tone and illustrate Odin's character out of the gate. So, I went with a boy who lost his family in an enemy raid and Odin did nothing to prevent it. And this boy honestly got off easy since the tired and petty Asgard king went to aid his sons.

Even as a Valkyrie, Brynhildr is still a bloodthirsty maniac. That's not a 'hero' you want to look up to, Aslaug, lol.

Tori also brings to light her past grievances and being a former fan writer growing up. She's exactly the type of fangirl writer you'd expect in their tween-teen years. She got overly ambitious with her creativity. Then they meet someone who has similar interests and passions. It's all fun and games until creative differences and one's arrogance can end their online friendship. On the bright side, Tori didn't get online doxxed, but the falling out with Lazarus-Vârcolac and online bullying factors forced her to drop her online persona and quit fanfic writing. All that made her reevaluate and get her shit together. Those factors enabled her to get into law enforcement to honor her late dad, but even she wonders if being an officer is worth it with all the corruption within the police system. If she hadn't done that, she would've never met Hiroshi, Makoto, Aslaug, and the others. She wouldn't have become an Advent Eight member. And she wouldn't be in this chapter to tell her tale. One does wonder where Lazarus-Vârcolac is nowadays. She even compared Lazarus' arrogance with the most jerkish Wulf-Edda Norse characters.

And with that, the Wulf-Edda saga continues into the next part. Gee, I wonder how Brynhildr and Odin's lovely interactions will go? (chuckles) Next time.