Alert

Erik, Liam, and Mia continued to search the area around the altar and the towering Whispering Tree. The glade was peaceful now, almost as if nothing had ever happened here.

However, when Mia moved around the perimeter of the glade her eyes caught something unusual. In the shadows cast by the massive tree trunks where the sunlight unable to reach the ground she noticed faint traces of snow clinging to the ground. She frowned, crouching down to examine it more closely. The snow was an odd sight especially in a place bathed in golden light and surrounded by ancient trees.

Her mind began to race. Snow and ice, they seemed to be connected to every dark event they had encountered so far. The black-masked figure, the presence of Ragnarok, all of it had ties to this chilling element. This realization sent a shiver down her spine.

Mia stood up quickly. She knew she couldn't keep this discovery to herself.

"Erik! Liam!" Mia called out.

The two of them were still inspecting the area around the altar but immediately turned at the sound of her voice. They hurried over to where Mia was standing, sensing the urgency in her voice.

"What is it?" Erik asked as he approached.

"Look," Mia said, pointing to the patches of snow hidden in the shadows. "This isn't normal."

Liam narrowed his eyes, studying the snow. "You're right. There must have been a snowstorm here recently. But now, suddenly, it's all gone."

"Unfortunately, we've never learned much about this realm. We don't know if this snow is something normal or not around here," Erik said.

"But, remember the black-masked figure? The cold and ice magic that surrounded him? And Ragnarok… there's always this cold, this ice, linked to everything bad that's happening," Mia said.

"You're right," Erik said after thinking for a moment. "Does the System have anything to say to us?"

The three of them waited for a response from the System, but nothing appeared. They concluded that they would have to search on their own for now.

Suddenly, the System's voice rang out in their minds with sharp and urgent tone. Now, they're not not only seeing bunch of text but a voice directly inside their head.

[Alert: Threat detected. Approaching rapidly.]

Erik, Liam, and Mia froze, their hearts skipping a beat as the warning settled over them. For a brief moment there was silence in the glade.

Erik was the first to recover. "We need to get ready."

He scanned their surroundings quickly, his eyes landing on the ancient tree where the altar was located. "Lets hide inside the tree. It'll give us cover."

Without hesitatio they moved swiftly towards the tree and slipping into the hollow space at its base. The thick bark providing a little bit of protective barrier between them and the outside world. The trio crouched inside and grasping their Boltr.

Anxiety crept in as they waited in the dark. This would be a fight. They braced themselves for whatever was to come.

Seconds ticked by. Then, a dark portal appeared in the center of the glade, swirling with shadows and dark energy. The air grew colder, and a low hum vibrated through the tree, sending a shiver down their spines.

From the portal three figures emerged, each clad in black armor and sleeveless black shirt. Their faces is pale, their eyes hollow and lifeless, marked by dark circles that added to their ghastly appearance. Their pale skin stood out in stark contrast to the darkness they carried with them.

Erik, Liam, and Mia remained perfectly still as they watched the figures step into the glade. The soft glow of the Whispering Trees cast light on their black armor, highlighting the sharp edges and intricate patterns etched into the metal. As they moved closer their voices began to carry through the air.

"Everything is falling into place," the tallest of the three spoke, his voice a deep. "Freya made it all too easy for us. Her foolishness in coming alone was her mistake. Now that she's captured, the rest of the plan can proceed without much interference because the rest of the gods are busy somewhere else."

"She thought she could perform her little rituals unnoticed. Now, she's nothing but Nox's toy. With her out of the way, there's no one left to stop us." The second figure that looked slightly shorter chuckled darkly.

The third figure who had been silently observing the glade finally spoke. "The pieces are all in position. Soon, we'll achieve our goal and nothing will stand in our way."

Hidden within the ancient tree, Erik, Liam, and Mia listened intently, their hearts pounding in their chests as the three figures continued their conversation. The words that followed sent a chill down their spines.

"Once we're done here, our next stop is Midgard, right?" the tallest figure said. "The humans won't even know what hit them."

Liam's eyes widened in alarm, and he turned to Erik and Mia, mouthing the words, "We've got to stop them now!"

Erik and Mia nodded, their expressions hardening as well. They couldn't let these figures carry out their plan, especially if Midgard was the next target. Erik clenched his jaw and signaled to them, his hand making a swift, decisive motion.

As the three figures continued to approach, unaware of the impending attack, Erik raised his hand. In a single motion he signaled for the group to move.

In perfect synchronization Erik, Liam, and Mia leaped from their hiding spot within the tree while pointing their weapon in front of them.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Bǫltr flared to life as they pulled the triggers. The sharp, thunderous crack of the shotgun blasts echoed through the glade, followed by a brief flash of light as the enchanted bullets tore through the air.

Three shots, perfectly timed, found their marks.

The first figure staggered as the bullet hit him squarely in the chest, the impact sending him reeling back. The second figure was struck in the shoulder, the force of the shot spinning him around. The third was hit in the side, a cry of pain escaping his lips as he clutched his wound.

The glade was now filled with the metallic sound of the attack. The trio knew that the element of surprise was their best chance at stopping these figures.

But the three figures in black raise again. The battle had just begun.

---