War IV

(Odin POV)

*KABOOOOOM*

The sword hit the place where we were just at and broke the rocks. As this first attack was happening, the other firey creatures started their assault as well. We were utterly surrounded and outnumbered. 

"The demons attack from all sides!", Ve said. 

"Fear not, little brother!", Vili said and raised his arm. I knew what he was going to do and helped as well. 

"For as we are the gods of the wintry north, so do we call the raging storms of the Arctic to quench the demon's boiling heat!", Vili finished and used a very particular spell that we both learned long ago to call upon icy winds and snow. I helped as well and together we were able to call winds and snow that were cold enough to momentarily quench Surtur's flames and freeze the fire creatures. 

"What manner of madness is this? Snow is coating my body, smothering my flame! You little whelps dare!", Surtur was furious. He was trapped in a layer of ice for a very brief period. But that was enough for us to perform a technique which we had perfected long ago. 

"Quickyl, brothers. Here in the heart of fire's kingdom, the storm will not last long. And Surtur renews his attack!", Vili said.

"We must combine our power and become as deadly in the cold as he is in the fire!", Ve said and we all knew what we were talking about. We had developed this technique where we combine our powers and take the form of a giant. It is a magic spell that allows us to do this but only for a short amount of time. 

In a shining light, we combined and a giant body appeared, fully armed with a sword and armour. 

"We are one! Let the wrath of the icy wastes be matched against the anger of the burning giant. Have at thee Surtur!", the combination screamed. 

*CLANGG*

Our blades clashed and we got into a fight. Time was of the essence here because should there be too much damage, or should the time run out, we would be separated again and then Surtur would have all of the advantage. 

Surtur was unlike anything I had fought before. His flames seemed to be filled by his rage and his strength was far beyond anything and anyone I had seen up to this point. Our fight took us across the burnt and broken landscape of Muspelheim. As the fight went on, we understood that we didn't stand a chance at winning this fight. So we made one final effort. 

We poured all our energy and power into focus, channelling it into our sword at the last moment before impact. 

*KRAKADOOOOOM!*

A giant explosion was heard and when we recovered consciousness, we saw that our fusion had been destroyed. 

"Our fusion is destroyed and Surtur is submerged in his sea of flames!", Ve said.

"But I think we destroyed his sword. The sword of doom is broken!", Vili said.

"Let us not assume we won just yet. They are approaching again and it is but a question of time when Surtur comes back again. Let's do it fast since our swords have been broken as well.", I say to my brothers. We were in no state to fight anymore right now. I did have endless stamina but with my wounds, I wouldn't be of much help right now. 

"Then let us flee and take the Eternal Flame with us."

"Catch!"

I caught the pot with the Endless Flames and sat on my horse. Surtur was slowly rising from the lava again and another fight would mean death for us. We couldn't fail right now. 

"Though Surtur should be able to make his sword anew, he will never be able to kindle with the endless flames again to end the worlds!", Ve said happily. But we didn't have time for happiness right now. 

"Hurry! He's already back again. If we don't leave now, we'll all die!", I say. I am stressed right now. If we don't make this, not only we, but Asgard itself will fall and we couldn't allow this, not when I had the best chance of stopping Ragnarök.

"Stop godlings! Stop or know that I shall never rest until I have my revenge!", Surtur screamed as we rode on our horses towards the gates of Muspelheim, from where we came from. Finally, we had made it and only a short distance until we achieved our goal. But I suddenly had a weird feeling. Like I had forgotten something important. 

Unseen by me, Vili and Ve did not follow me through the door, the gates of Muspelheim. I looked back when I realised I was alone and saw my brothers standing there ... waving at me. And then I understood what was happening. They wanted to sacrifice themselves for me to flee.

"Nooooo! Vili, Ve come with me!! Don't!!"

"Nay, Odin! Our ride ends here, brother."

"For should we escape with you, then surely shall Surtur enter the nine worlds and seek us out, no matter where we have hidden. Take the eternal flames to Father and end this war."

"Go, brother! Guard the Eternal Flame and rule wisely the realm of Asgard. We put our future in your hands."

.

A bright light blinded me and nearly knocked me out. I looked at the spot where my brothers had just been a moment ago and saw only the towering cliff, which reached into the clouds endlessly. The entrance of Muspelheim was gone. My two brothers had once again given their lives for me so that I may live and ...

Suddenly a second shock, more powerful than the first, hit me. I felt it. The energy. I stand back up and feel the abundance of energy. The energy that can shake the foundation of this cosmos. My brothers gave up their powers and life force to grant it to me. So that is how the Odin Force was once again born. The 'meta-knowledge' made me understand what this movement was. 

I cursed my lack of knowledge. The way I remembered my past incarnations was not like a normal reincarnation this other soul read about it. I didn't remember my entire life and could take advantage of it. I only knew that I was a reincarnation and some things, like my father and mother. But it was very little knowledge to take advantage of. The 'meta-knowledge' I gained doesn't know that much about this universe and only certain things. 

My brothers gave their lives to save mine and granted me this power. I closed my eyes and thanked them for their sacrifice. I would honour them and make sure that their names would be remembered. 

It is time to head back to Asgard ... Time to end a war. 

.

(A/N To clarify, Odin does not remember his life. He only knows about the Ragraök cycle and that he is just another incarnation. The meta-knowledge he has comes from the other reincarnator but that one is not complete.)

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Now armed with the Odin Force, I can feel that the possibilities are near endless. From the meta knowledge, I know that other incarnations of mine did some impressive and powerful things. But the Odinsleep is still a weakness I will have to address at some point. I'll make sure to grow more powerful, in order to get rid of this weakness. 

Carrying the Eternal Flame, I made my way towards Asgard. I rode my steed and as I was riding tried to get more familiar with this new energy. The Odin Force was an apt name for it. I can feel the power coursing through me. I will be able to implement this into my magic and make it that much stronger.

As I arrived in Asgard I was greeted by my Mother Bestla who at first welcomed me with a smile. But when she saw that I was alone, she understood what must have happened and her expression turned solemn. But instead of blaming me, she approached me and took me into her arms. We hugged for a while and she kept saying calming words to me. I understood that I was still weak in the grand scheme of things. If I couldn't do anything in my past lives then I had that much more of a responsibility now, when I had these boons. 

"How are things looking, Mother?", I asked my mother.

"Not as good as we would like. Your father had his fight against the forces of Lorey. It didn't go as planned and he was injured but is still alive. Your brother Cull is holding his own with Brandi and the forces against the Dark Elves. Now that the problem with Muspelhiem has been dealt with, we at least have one less problem.

But another one has arrived. The Warlord Ulik has united the clans of rock trolls and started his invasion of Nidavellir. They won't hold on for long, son. No matter how skilled they are at forging weapons, they aren't adept at using them."

"You're a strong woman, Mother. Don't worry, I'll deal with it.", I said and approached the Bifrost. It was time to end this war. 

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The Bifrost sends me to Jotunheim first. I arrive close to our camp and walk towards it. When the guards see me, I can see the relief in their eyes and the happiness. It seems morale had suffered in my absence. But that wouldn't be a problem now, I'll deal with things. 

I walk into the war tent of my father and see him wounded and bandaged. He is discussing things with one of the generals when I enter. He looks at me and then smiles. 

"Odin, you have returned."

"Aye, father I did. But I bring not only good tidings..."

"Vili and Ve?"

"Aye, they didn't make it. They sacrificed themselves so that I could."

"That was good of them. They protected the next King of Asgard. The next All-Father.", Bor says and puts a hand on my shoulder. I knew that Bor was a harsh man, but this is still much. He doesn't seem to care about his two sons at all. At least on the surface. 

"I see that you have grown more powerful. That is good, we will need your strength in the coming days."

"What's the situation?"

"We have finally found Lorey and his most powerful guards. They are hiding in Urgard. They're defence is strong and we haven't been able to get through yet. Now that you're here, I hope that you can lift the spirit of the men again. They are reaching their limits sadly."

"I'll do my best. When are we attacking?"

"As soon as possible. Tomorrow."

"But your Majesty, you haven't fully recovered yet!", the general says.

"Nonsense! I'm as healthy as I'll ever be. We attack at dawn.", Bor said. 

"Father, have you heard about the situation in Nidavellir?"

"You mean the rock trolls? That arrogant Ulik thinks he can take something that isn't his. We'll deal with him after Lorey is lying slain at my feet."

.

I spent the evening and the entire night cooking something and healing the injured. It was the perfect training for me on how to use the Odin Force. I wanted to get an understanding of this energy and power. The applications are limitless and it only depends on my strength and imagination. So I went around the entire camp and healed whoever needed healing. 

I made fires and talked to the soldiers to lift their spirits. Tomorrow would be the last day of fighting, I would make sure of that. As the night passed it made way for the little amount of light that this dimension had. 

Thick snowflakes were falling and made it hard to see very far. I augmented my vision with the Odin Force and looked around for ambushes. There weren't any outside of Utgard. And then we finally stood in front of Utgard. The capital city of Jotunheim and the place where Lorey had pulled back to with his forces.

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