Eternal-Deviant Thor Part III

"Are you certain that they'll be coming here?" Thor asked, stood beside Antiphon and a number of his servants, the Watchers. There were six in total, the most powerful and brilliant of their race, personally selected by Antiphon for their incredible knowledge and control over the cosmic energies that resided within them.

Their names as Thor had come to learn were Ulana, Utaa, Utau, Uatu, Acitua and Atau. Together, they stood as the Council of Watchers, the ruling body of the species and closest confidants of Antiphon. His most trusted and powerful advisors.

"Definitively," Antiphon responded. "My fellow Proemial have kept a close eye on me for many years. They have tried to convince me many a time and now will be no different. After all, despite being young, my Watchers are still powerful and their numbers numerous."

Thor could see the sense in that, after all, even if they weren't as strong as the Proemial Gods, their numbers alone would help close that gap. He had seen similar tactics employed by the Asgardian when fighting against the Jōtnar. After all, despite having superior weapons and skill, physically they were weaker than the Jōtnar and so had compensated in a number of ways for it.

Effectively the same as what the Proemial Gods were attempting to do by recruiting Antiphon and the Watchers.

Saying nothing, Thor instead turned his attention to look around at the surrounding area. It was completely destroyed, water completely submerging every recognisable landmark of the Thurian Continent. The Celestials had destroyed this once flourishing continent full of life.

It was saddening to see what had become of it and it made him sadder to know that its destruction and times of turmoil was not yet over. In fact, they were perhaps about to get worse. No one really understood or knew much about the World Eater, he was just a powerful being with an appetite for planets, it was how he earned his title. But no one truly knew how powerful he really was, his Herald, the Fallen One would travel to planets, purging it of its strongest warriors before the World Eater arrived.

It had led to many speculating that the World Eater wasn't truly powerful as a result of the Fallen One killing the warriors that guarded the planets he set his sights on. Thor didn't know either, but the reputation of the World Eater alone was enough to make him nervous.

But Thor didn't come here to lose, Midgard was a place he was connected to. Vingthor's loyalty to the Deviant race was still strong and while Donar was pleased to see that it seemed the Eternals had left, Thor had to stay and fight.

"They may not have come to convince you though." Thor pointed out. "They may have come to simply kill you. You did say they've tried to convince you before and it's possible they have finally lost all patience with you."

"Possible, yet unlikely," Antiphon replied, appearing entirely calm and unbothered by all. "However, should the possibility of my fellow Proemials be to kill me, with the Watchers I have brought with me, I will be more than able to hold them off long enough for the World Eater to arrive. We have waited till a point that he is almost upon us."

Antiphon pointed to the right, there was nothing in view. "Mjolnir is awaiting you there."

"What of the Járngreiper?" Thor asked, referring to the iron gloves he often wore to help him utilise the strength of Mjolnir. Its vast amount of power as well the weight it possessed was enough to shatter planets, yet the shortened handle put an enormous strain upon his body. That was why he had requested the Dwarves to forge him the Járngreiper to help alleviate that burden.

"Destroyed," Antiphon explained. "However the Celestial armour that you wear will act even better than them."

Looking down upon the armour-clad around his body, Thor nodded his head and clenched his fists tightly. He felt stifled in it, its clunky and large frame leaving him feeling stiff and constrained despite the fact that he could move freely. However, it seemed that despite that, it did come with its positives.

-X- Line Break -X-

Looking upon the figure of Antiphon that stood upon one of the few areas of land not submerged underwater, Diableri smirked. The war against his fellow Proemials that refused to see the turn of their existence had dragged on for long enough. But now things would change, Antiphon the Overseer, smartest and weakest of all Proemials was finally seeing the truth.

Diableri couldn't help but feel a sense of achievement because of this.

Behind him, his fellow Proemials arrived, among them being his closest allies, Aegis the Lady of All Sorrows and Tenebrous of the Darkness Between. Around them, dozens of more Proemials descended, their own creations such as his own Chaos Sprites followed. Expendable and easily replaced soldiers that they used in their war.

Not as powerful as Antiphon's creations, the Watchers. However, the Watchers were formed not of Antiphon's own power like the Chaos Sprites were from his. Instead, they were an alien race that Antiphon had blessed with power.

They were also extremely valuable.

Antiphon the Overseer while the smartest of the race was incredibly weak, he was not a valuable member to their war effort, but his creations were. They alone would be able to tip the scales of war in his favour and despite how long Antiphon had kept him waiting, Diableri would not retaliate. That would not endear him to the Watchers who he needed desperately.

"I'm glad you made your decision at long last, Antiphon," Diableri spoke, smiling happily.

"That's where you're mistaken, Diableri." As soon as those words were spoken, the Proemial God scowled, looking to see another host of Proemial Gods approaching. This time was led by his long time enemy in this war, Brio of Life.

Diableri clenched his fists, power beginning to rise in a threatening manner. "What is the meaning of this, Antiphon?"

"This is not a place or time for you both to fight," Antiphon spoke, voice possessing wisdom beyond anything they had themselves. "This war has gone on long enough and I have brought you here to put an end to it."

"You brought us here to speak?" Brio questioned.

"Or do you and your servants intend to kill us?" Diableri also inputted and Antiphon shook his head.

"I have sworn to never involve myself in the conflict or businesses of the cosmos. However, this war has dragged on long enough, the repercussions it has created has led to the delicate balance we once created to come undone." Antiphon explained. "But neither of you two have any intention to see the true damage your war has brought upon the cosmos. Both of you have strayed away from the righteous path you once followed."

"And what will you do?" Diableri demanded.

"I will do nothing," Antiphon replied and in that instance, all felt the presence of a powerful being approaching the planet, an even stronger presence following behind. "They shall bring an end to our war and in turn, bring about the end of Proemials before we can cause any more damage to the cosmos."

"Madness!" It was not Diableri that spoke, but Dori.

Yet then the figure arrived, one purely black with a mane of glowing blue hair. His body was surrounded by dark energy, a being that appeared to be composed entirely of energy much like the Celestials were.

From his hands, beams of dark energy were unleashed, killing dozens of off-guard Proemials in an instant.

-X- Line Break -X-

Behind him, Thor could sense the vast amounts of powerful beings gathered at Antiphon's position. Each of them emitted energy passively in a way that completely overwhelmed Antiphon and Thor wondered if the Overseer was confident or just too trusting.

Both Donar and Vingthor had always gone into negotiations with the advantage. In fact, usually when entering negotiations Donar was just there as a silent threat that hung over the other party while his brothers or father imposed upon them the agreements.

The only time in which Donar had been in a position of weakness during a negotiation was during the time in which Thrym had stolen his hammer, Mjolnir. That ended with Thrym dead. Even Vingthor, despite being kept hidden from his people, had come out into the open during the times of Ragnarök. His attempts at negotiation were few in number, but his reputation and the accomplishments he achieved in such a short space of time had earned him a position of great strength.

One in which he used to unify the Aesir, the Elves, the Dwarves and the Vanir as he launched a final push to battle against the Jōtnar and the Dark Elves. A final that push that resulted in all dead, including himself.

Descending upon the continent, Thor looked upon the largest structure that laid upon it, a volcano. A large crater was laid in the side of it, large and deep. Even from here, even with all the powerful beings arriving upon Midgard, Thor could sense the familiar power of Mjolnir awaiting him.

As soon as he felt it wash over him, Thor's speed increased as he rushed towards the crater. There, stood proudly within the crater stood the hammer that had been by his side for many years. The memories of Donar filled him with a sense of nostalgia, even Vingthor whose Mjolnir was not forged of ancient stone, but of Uru looked upon the hammer with a sense of nostalgia and awe.

It radiated with power and Thor moved forwards, footsteps slow and measured. Something seemed to change then, darkened clouds beginning to form above as lightning seemed to spark to life around Mjolnir.

Coming to a stop, Thor reached out, lightning arcing off the head and seeming to grasp at his own hand. Mjolnir seemed to sense his presence and welcomed it. And so, Thor wrapped his fingers around its small handle and after a moment, he pulled.