Cause

The woman standing on the balcony had not always been a figure of cold fury and vengeance. Once, she had been one of Asgard's warriors, a Valkyrie of the high rank. Her name is Valeria.

Valeria had been a loyal servant of Odin the Allfather, serving as one of his most trusted lieutenants. Her duties took her across the realms from the battlefields of Midgard to the towering peaks of Jotunheim. Her every action dictated by the commands of her lord.

But that loyalty had been shattered. The moment had come during a mission to Jotunheim, home to the giants that had long been enemies of the Aesir. Odin had ordered a covert strike. Valeria and her Valkyries were sned to kill the children of the Jotunn.

The memory of that day was etched into her soul like a scar that would never fade. She had led her warriors into the heart of Jotunheim. But when she stood over the first child, something inside her broke. The boy's wide, terrified eyes had met hers, and in that moment she had seen the monstrous nature of the task she had been given.

Valeria had hesitated but the cries of her fellow Valkyries echoed around her, the slaughter already beginning. Torn between duty and conscience, she had made a choice. A choice that would set her on the path of rebellion. She had turned her blade against her own and striking down the Valkyries who had followed Odin's orders without question.

In that instant, she became a traitor, an outcast from Asgard, her name cursed by those who once called her sister.

Fleeing from the wrath of the Allfather, Valeria had wandered the realms with her heart heavy with guilt and rage. The gods of Asgard were not protectors in her eyes. They were tyrants, using their power to bend the world to their will, indifferent to the suffering they caused. She had seen the truth and it had shattered her faith.

In her exile, Valeria had discovered a way to bring about the destruction of Asgard itself. The Eye of the Abyss. The artifact was designed to harness and amplify negative energy—fear, despair, hatred—and channel it into the world, disrupting the natural order and sowing chaos. And of course, advancing the Ragnarok.

And so, she had allied herself with Nox's master who also sought the downfall of the Aesir. Nox's assistance had been important in her purpose but she knew that she can't trust him. He was a servant of his master, nothing more, and she would use him.

The storm outside continued to rage. Valeria was now one of the harbinger of Asgard's doom. And as the wind howled through the frozen peaks she silently vowed that nothing would stand in her way.

A subordinate entered the room. He approached Valeria with a sense of urgency. His face was pale under his black hood. He bowing his head slightly and spoke with unease tone.

"Lady Valeria, the three you sent to clean up the mess in Vanaheim… they've failed. Their life signs have disappeared, indicating that they are… dead."

Valeria's expression darkening with an angry frown. "What?" she asked. "How could this happen?"

The subordinate shifted uncomfortably, clearly unsettled by her fierce gaze. "I—I don't know, my lady."

A cold wave of dread washed over Valeria as she processed the news. Something was terribly wrong. She could feel a gnawing sensation at the back of her mind that refused to be ignored.

Thor and Freya were currently out of commission, their ability to join any battle severely limited after what Nox had did to them. The other gods and goddesses were scattered and busy handling crises in different realms and places. If they weren't the ones behind this, then who could have done it?

Valeria clenched her fists. This was no ordinary setback. Whoever or whatever had managed to take down her soldiers so swiftly and without a trace was a force to be reckoned with. And yet, she had no idea who it could be.

She needed to act quickly before it was too late.

"I got it. Prepare more soldiers to guard the Eye," said Valeria.

"Yes, my lady."

After that, the man walk away from the room with urgent steps. Leaving Valeria pondering alone while looking back at the storm.

---

Erik, Liam, and Mia finished replenishing their Aether. In the game-like system they now lived by the trio think of it as akin to refilling their MP. Though they carried potions that could restore it in an instant those were reserved for emergencies.

As they opened their eyes from the meditation each of them felt the renewed energy coursing through their bodies as their Aether reserves were fully restored.

Erik stand and said, "I guess We're ready."

Mia nodded. "Let's get this over with." She held out the medallion and they gathered around her, forming a tight circle.

"Stay sharp, guysm. We don't know what's on the other side of this thing," Liam said while gripping his axes.

Erik and Mia also held their weapons at the ready. The medallion began to glow with a soft blue light, the Rune etched into it pulsing rhythmically as it activated.

A faint hum filled the air around them as the light from the medallion intensified. The Rune of Teleportation flared and enveloping them. The world around them seemed to blur, the edges of their vision distorting as they were pulled into the space between realms.

For a brief moment everything was silent and still. Then, with a sudden rush, the three of them were propelled forward, the Rune's power yanking them across space.

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