Chapter Text
Prologue: Bloody Beginnings (Solo Leveling)
- ??? -
The blood in my head thrums and pounds, where I can feel a strange sensation weakly pulsing within and around my body.
It's an odd feeling, where I somehow tell a new, alien force of dark energy is coursing through my veins, changing my whole being. But for some reason, my body accepts it without worry, I can just instinctively feel it is for the better.
I can't explain at all why, trying to make any sense of what I was just doing a moment before arriving here is useless, as I'm obscured by an overwhelming loss of any memory.
Looking in every direction, I only see darkness; the arcane dreamscape I find myself in is ominous as I watch the unnatural clouds pass by in the hopelessly black sky above me. It's like a never ending night, there's an unsettling void of anything alive in this realm. Yet it still feels like it was all one large lively shadow world.
I probably should be scared for my life, but it's the opposite as I don't feel even a single sense of danger to my sense of being. It felt like I had this whole pocket dimension all to myself, or rather, I was already a part of the darkness itself.
A reassuring notion that no matter what happens, I'll always have this shadow sanctuary within myself.
The soothing quiet calms the black heart I can sense in my chest, where I can begin to feel it beating in a slow rhythm. As I start to regain more of my consciousness, a new sensitivity forms in my freshly waken mind.
Following the feeling to its source, a phantasmal blue window pops up in front of me.
Name: Jinwoo Sung
Race: Hunter (E-rank)
Skills: Locked
The mystery of who I am doesn't fully clear up, the splitting headache only growing with this new information.
Jinwoo Sung? Something about that name feels significant to me, why does it sound so familiar?
Suddenly, a barrage of memories fills up my brain, where I can start to remember who he is and the world he comes from.
From Seoul, South Korea, he is one of many ascended humans throughout the world. Known officially as Hunters, the special humans are gifted with a variety of magical powers, each unique to the awakened individual.
Their sudden arrival didn't come as a true blessing to humanity, since the magical power referred to as mana came from gates. These gates are connected to the human world from an unknown other side, where hostile monsters and magical beasts of all different sizes and threat levels endanger all human life.
The real danger was the fact each dungeon was of different strength; packs of cowardly goblins could be found in one gate, while another could have an extinction-level threat magical beast like a fire-breathing dragon. One such man-eating dragon, the infamous red dragon Kamish, was single-handedly responsible for the deaths of tens of millions, basically decimating the entire west coast of the United States.
As a hunter, Jinwoo worked hard to keep such a calamity like Kamish from ever happening again, where hunters would form raiding parties to hunt and exterminate all of the invading monsters inside the gate before the magical beasts would get a chance to kill another innocent life.
By successfully clearing a gate by killing the dungeon boss, there would be countless riches available to the surviving hunters and guilds: from the valuable corpses of the dead monsters, runes containing special skills, magical crystals that can be used to create magical armor or weapons, to even mysterious artifacts from the other side.
Guilds were created by hunters to act as organized attack forces, raiding parties, and treasure mining all in one. Because normal, mundane methods to fight these monsters such as bullets or explosives were ineffective, some guilds and government sanctioned hunter's associations became the true superpowers of the new magical world.
Unfortunately for Jinwoo, since he's only an E-rank hunter, he's limited to the weakest gates that spawn around the city. Even in the weakest dungeons he must be careful, a single unsuspecting goblin could overwhelm him.
When I try to remember further details about his life and situation, nothing comes up at all, although maybe I should be more worried about my selective memory regarding my own life.
Another chill goes down my spine, it felt like I was receiving a foreboding instinct I need to focus on whatever is going to happen next.
As if on cue, the impossibly bright shine of actual light appears in the distance, seemingly my way out of this lulling limbo.
With no concept of time, I'm not sure how long it takes me to get to the lone shining beacon in the shadowlands, but it's soon clear it's some set of doors, where two big arcs act as an otherworldly portal to another dimension. The light is blinding, it's impossible to see what is on the other side.
"It's now or never," I take a deep breath, shaking my head as I get ready to start anew.
Stepping into the light, it completely overtakes me; I feel my whole being transport somewhere else entirely.
I'm in a dimly-lit hall, where countless gigantic statues tower over me. I can feel there is a dormant sensation of old magic in the dank crypt.
I suddenly realize I'm not alone anymore, when a pretty girl besides me is looking at me in worry.
My tricky memory flares up again, reminding me of what I was originally here for. I'm currently in the middle of a dungeon raid, where the group of hunters I'm with are to clear the D-rank gate of all the enemy monsters inside and collect the magical crystals and any loot.
This particular raid has been odd, as our hunting group has been stuck inside for a while, unable to find the final boss inside despite being in here for hours.
"Jinwoo, are you okay?" the woman besides me asks in a concerned tone.
"Jinwoo?" the name leaves my mouth with more familiarity.
Wait...
I'm Jinwoo?
I can start to remember now, the orange-haired beauty is perhaps my closest friend. I recall going through countless raids with her, the sweetheart healer Joohee Lee has saved me more times than I could count.
"Do you need more healing? You had me worried a few times during the raid," she asked me with a genuine smile on her face.
"I'm okay, Joohee, I just spaced out for a second," I reply to her, giving her my best smile as I try to make any sense of what is happening to me.
"What's with the statues? They look so old," one of the puzzled hunters in the group in front of us asks out loud, breaking the uneasy silence in the abandoned hall.
"And some of them are holding musical instruments instead of weapons..." another hunter added, looking around in even more confusion.
While the group splits into different directions, I end up in the middle of the room, where I find myself at the foot of a statue considerably larger than the rest, a blank expression on its face. Clearly, something was special about this particular one overseeing them all, it had a unique crown on its head as it sat alone on the stone throne.
I study the other statues in depth, noticing the differences between them. The statues in armor were standing guard with their weapons at the ready, while the winged statues were dressed in fancy clothes, either holding their instrument or singing in joyous praise.
"This must be their king?" I utter to myself in deep thought, sighing as I look back up at the giant regal statue. A cold sweat goes down my forehead, I swear it felt like it was glaring at me for a second, before its eyes flickered back to place. "I must still be seeing things from that weird dream..."
But maybe not, as the familiar warning chill runs down my spine once more.
"Damn, that one's huge," Hunter Chi-Yul Song, the leader of the raid said next to me, staring up at the creepy statue. "Something feels wrong about that one."
"I gotta say, I'm not seeing any other beasts in here either Hunter Song," a hunter sighed behind us, growing impatient. "My kid is gonna be done school soon, my ex-wife is gonna kill me if I'm late for pick-up."
"Perhaps there's another secret boss room here, we should look for any hidden levers or any weird signs like that," the older man who joined me responded. Chi-Yul was very experienced when it came to adventuring through all kinds of tricky dungeons.
I look down on the ground where it looks like there are magical circles with strange signals scattered across the room. The more I study it the more it feels like some sort of ancient monster language, it was certainly not of this world.
"Mister Raid Leader Song! Come over, something is written over here!" a new voice called the attention of the group, where the hunters assembled around a particular hooded statue with wings, clutching onto a tablet carved with magical runes.
"This is in ancient script? Let me take a look..." Chi-Yul Song rubbed his chin in thought, as he analyzed the strange text. "The Commandments of the Cartenon Temple. First, thou shalt Worship the Lord. Second, thou shalt Praise the Lord..."
"J-Jinwoo," Joohee whispered to me, pulling on my jacket. "That big statue... I saw its eyes move, it has been watching us!"
Before I could respond to her, the raid leader finished reading the script out loud.
"Third, thou shalt Prove your Faith to the Lord. Those who do not follow these laws, will not leave alive," the raid leader finished the grim translation, and instantly a loud bang reverberated in the dusty room, when the large double doors sealed itself shut.
"Hey, what's going on in here?!" a scared hunter yelled out to everyone. "Why did the door just slam shut?"
"Are we trapped in here now?" Joohee looked to me with fear in her eyes.
"You guys, this is what I was worried about. We didn't take this seriously, and now look!" some hunters began to argue amongst themselves. "We never should have come this way!"
"Jinwoo..." Joohee gets closer to me, her voice quivering.
Keeping my mouth shut, I feel goosebumps form on my body as I sense a growing bloodlust generating inside the locked room. A new internal clock inside my body starts ticking, warning me I have to be ready for what's coming next.
"I'm leaving, you guys can have the treasure or whatever else you find in here," the hunter closest to the exit scoffed, headed for the doors.
"Get away from there!" Chi-Yul shouted out in warning, as the huge statue guarding the doors shifted in response to the hunter's movements to the exit.
In the blink of an eye the great axe it was wielding decapitated the man cleanly in one stroke, its stone axe covered in his blood.
There was an eerie moment of silence, as the group processed what just happened, the hunter's dead body hitting the ground with a dull thud.
A growing streak of red blood now flowed freely, staining the cold floor.
"NOO!" one of the hunters fell to the ground, shielding her eyes from the gruesome sight.
"Are you kidding me? We're supposed to fight these things?!" the hunter that was complaining a second ago scanned around the room for another way out.
This is a bit of a problem.
As an E-ranker, I couldn't even scratch a single one of these statues that outnumber us heavily.
The man that just died was a D-rank hunter, and he fell in a single effortless swing.
There have been accidents in the past, where for whatever reason, the initial measurement of a gate's strength was wrong. Usually these kind of incidents ended in a tragic dungeon break, which happens when every hunter dies inside, allowing the monsters within to break through and enter the real world. I couldn't even imagine the level of devastation these statues could cause outside, so many innocent lives would be lost before reinforcements could come.
Joohee's cries cause me to snap out of the dark thought. She is cowering in fear, holding onto me for dear life.
It's do or die right now, I have to keep Joohee and myself safe at all costs, it's not the end of my story just yet. In fact, it hasn't even fucking started.
There must be a way out, what did the raid leader say was on the script?
"Those who do not follow the Commandments... will not leave alive," I shake off the shock, remembering what the translation of the text said. "What was the first one again? Worship the-"
My eyes dart to the giant king statue in the middle of the room, where I can tell my new instincts take over as I feel a huge wave of hostility about to burst free from the behemoth.
"EVERYBODY WATCH OUT!" my warning to everyone feels too late, but I'm just able to grab Joohee and dive to the ground, right as the boss statue's eyes light up a dangerous red.
With my next breath, a devastating beam of energy is released from it, incinerating a third of the hunters next to me in a single deadly eruption. The remains left of anybody that was hit by that attack are charred, they didn't even have a chance to dodge the laser.
It seems enough people heard my call, Chi-Yul was looking at me with grateful eyes.
"What the hell?! Nobody mentioned anything like this!" the horrified screams and panicked shouting of the survivors forcefully send my brain into auto-pilot mode, where I cannot afford to make any mistakes. "What is that thing?!"
"We need to get out of here!"
"No more..." the whimpering Joohee is a mess, curled up into a ball with her eyes shut, her hands covering her ears as she shivered uncontrollably. " Please, no more!"
"Everyone stay still for now!" Chi-Yul shouts out, trying his best to take control of the disorganized situation. "I think moving makes it mad, too!"
The group is forced to settle down, not a single soul wanting to see that statue repeat its attack.
Daring to look back up at the terrifying statue, I can see its eyes glow dangerously, still looking emotionless straight ahead.
"That was a close one. We'd all be piles of ash right now if it weren't for you. Thanks, kid," Chi-Yul showed his appreciation with a calm smile, the veteran hunter must have been in dozens of dungeons where he thought his life is forfeit. "You suddenly yelled because you figured it out, right?"
"At first, it was pure intuition, my body was moving on its own to get to safety, but thinking about it now, I believe I know how to move forward," I nod to him, my concentration is quite clear right now. "Wait a second, hunter Song, your arm..."
The raid leader in front of me was missing his left arm he had a second ago, cut right above the elbow, his jacket stained in blood.
If there was any silver lining at all, the red-hot laser seemed to have instantly cauterized the wound as well. Once his adrenaline runs out, he's going to be in a world of pain.
"Heh, it's fine. If I grit my teeth, it isn't all that bad, but do you mind wrapping it up for me?" he manages to find humor in this situation. "Normally, I'd ask the party's healer to patch me up, but it looks like ours spooks easily."
While I try to tend to his wound, covering it with a bandage to prevent infection, I check on the shell shocked Joohee, who is still in a fetal position on the cold stone floor, her eyes shut tight. She really isn't built for this kind of life, but it would really help the group greatly if she could start healing the injured members.
"I can't blame her for only taking the bottom tier raids, despite her being a B-rank. As a C-rank hunter, I've been quite lucky to say I've raided a few B-rank dungeons and lived to tell the tale," he sighed out, looking ahead at the statues. "Something like that which can insta-kill has to be A-rank, if not S. Those three commandments of the Cartenon Temple aren't there just for show. How do you think we should proceed from here?"
"The first command was thou shalt Worship the Lord. Judging by the gigantic statue's response to someone trying to leave the room without following its commandments, this has to be the big boss. If I have to bend the knee to this bastard and get out of this situation alive, I'll do whatever it takes," I give the swordsman my opinion.
"It is far too strong to fight, without even accounting for the dozens of other statues here. Since fighting our way out is not an option, our objective is to escape without losing any more lives," he nodded in agreement, before one of the hunters in our group stood up tall.
"I'm not dying in here!" the desperate hunter screamed out loud, his whole body started to glow, getting into position as if he was going to make a break for the exit. "Not when I just landed a contract with a major guild! I've got way too much going for me to bite it in this shit hole!"
Energy in the form of strong winds began to surround him as the C-ranker prepared his escape.
"If that's true then don't move!" Chi-Yul tried to convince him not to aggravate any of the hostiles any further.
"No, I can do this! Speed is my specialty, I'll get outta here and get help, just watch me!" with his bold words, he dashed forward with the squeak of his sneakers. "AAAAAARGH!"
He yelled out in pure determination and will to live, betting on his life with his supernatural speed.
It was a fairly impressive show of speed, as he made it half the way in a blink. But even faster than he was, a quick burst of deadly light shot out from above us, incinerating him on the spot. Only his shoes with his feet inside them still remained, after the god statue let out another beam.
"Damn it!" the raid leader spat in pure frustration at the needless death. "If he just listened to us before he did anything stupid..."
More hunters only screamed in agony, the group realizing this statue could kill us all easily within a second whenever it wanted to.
But this sort of difference in power and ego can work to our advantage, if there is truly any delusional hope we can survive this encounter.
"Rather than blindly attack us on sight like most magic beasts, there's a reason we haven't all been vaporized yet," I say to the group, who are all glued to the floor, not wanting to be next one squashed like a bug. "We just need to follow each commandment, and we should all exit this nightmare alive. Follow my lead for now, we just need to worship this statue, before it does anything else."
"You've got to be kidding me, kid," a perplexed hunter couldn't even believe my words. "Did you not see it just killed a bunch of us?!"
"No, I think he's right, this place has its own rules," Chi-Yul supported me, the rest of the group will follow if he listens to me.
Knowing I have to backup my words, I rise up to my feet. Carefully staring up at the god statue, I force myself to walk forward to it instead of the exit, where its eyes start to flash red again. Fighting my urge to turn tail and flee, I drop forward on one knee, bowing my head slightly to it.
In response to my actions, the red eyes no longer hum dangerously, proving my hunch right.
"Alright, listen up, we all need to bow our heads to the throne," I say to the hunters behind me with complete confidence, following the dark feeling in my gut has proved to be worth a shot so far.
I change my position into a dogeza like posture, to fully worship the wicked monster in front of us. After a moment of silence, the rest of the group follows my instructions, mimicking my position of reverence to the statue as big as a building.
Peeking up at it, I can't help but cringe at the sight and sound of the god statue cracking into a sadistic smile, looking down at all of us in perverted glee. The freaky smile on its face is burned into my brain, I'll never, ever forget this feeling of humiliating defeat. But if it means I can get out of here alive, then there's always the chance I can redeem myself.
With its cruel smile, its eyes no longer glow red, as if it was satisfied with the first condition.
"Okay, I think we can move to the next commandment," I whisper to the group, standing up fully and relaxing once there's no more outright hostility emitting from it. "Thou shalt Praise the Lord. Do you guys have any ideas?"
The rest of the group feel a twinge of hope again, some traumatized members laughing due to the sheer bizarreness of this dungeon.
"How can we accomplish that?" the raid leader asked me, there's hope in his eyes shining with the belief I can get us out of here alive. "Hmm..."
Before I can say anything, the ground quakes, pieces of debris falling off the god statue as it rips itself up off the stone throne. Its ugly smile has never left its face, but its eyes are glowing white, clearly not looking to laser us anymore.
"Quick, we need to properly praise it, before it crushes us all!" one of the hunters suggested, closing his eyes with his hands clasped together as the statue stomped towards us.
"I might have the answer," a hunter who remained silent this whole time chimed in, walking forward ahead of us with confidence. "I'm a dedicated student of ethnology, so I know a few extolments to the gods that are tucked away in the back of my mind," he stood alone in front of us, kneeling down to the approaching giant with his hand on his heart. "O mighty Lord; Praise be to you who brings order to the world..."
"Uh, I can't tell if it's working," the other hunters mumble nervously to themselves as the god statue doesn't slow down whatsoever, despite the devoted hunter's honoring words of praise.
"Show us the righteous path, O Lord," the hunter continued to sing his praises, even as the statue towered over him completely. "Thy will be done, for only you know the way. We revere and honor your holy name..."
The sickening smile on the statue's face somehow widened even more evilly, just as I realized the hunter's fatal error.
He's praising the wrong god.
"MOVE!" I shout out to the group, right as the statue raised its foot up high, crushing the poor hunter in prayer, ending his life in an instant.
The majority of the hunters listened to me, but one poor girl dropped to her knees in shock, the brutal squelch of the statue smashing her into a bloody pulp echoed across the room.
I wasn't able to save her, as I was preoccupied myself with Joohee, who would have suffered a similar fate if I wasn't holding on to her and dragging her away right now.
"Everyone, spread out until we can come up with something!" Chi-Yul blurted out orders to the scrambling group.
As the panicking group dispersed in different directions, another hunter stopped close to one of the walls, next to one of the statues.
"Look out! Behind you!" I try to warn him, but the statue behind him holding a giant great sword cleaves him in two, his two halves collapsing onto the floor, twitching.
The dire situation is only magnified now that the other statues have begun to get up and begin their attack. Why have they decided to move now?
I try to run faster, but Joohee is losing steam, I'm unable to move quicker as long as I'm holding hands with her. But if I let go, I don't possibly see her staying alive.
Shit! Since I can't leave her alone, I need to find the answer to the second commandment right now.
What the hell is there to even praise about that murderous lord?!
There must be a hint somewhere.
My eyes dart around the room as I run, where I watch one hunter get his arm chopped off by the battle axe wielding statue he got too close to. He doesn't live long after that as the statue brings up its axe once more, chopping him in half.
I glance at the statues next to it, noting what each individual is holding: axe, hammer, sword, trumpet, shield.
That must be it!
"Everyone, listen quick!" I holler out to anyone that can hear me. "Find the statues with the musical instruments!"
"If you say so," Chi-Yul huffed out, luckily he was right beside a more angelic looking statue, gently holding some sort of horn.
Its eyes glow white as it plays the horn, a soft, jazzy tune blowing from it.
All around me, I can hear various instruments start to play as a few other hunters find refuge. The god statue and any other hostile statue walks past any hunter currently under the protection of the harmonic statues, turning its attention to Joohee and I.
Arriving at a statue with drums, I leave Joohee alone in safety, once it began to tap in a rhythmic beat.
"Wait, where are you going Jinwoo?!" she cried out, as I run from her, not wanting to be by herself.
"You'll be safe here, I think it's one person per statue," I give her my best smile, not wanting to show her any of my fear. "You'll be fine, trust me."
With each giant step the god takes, the distance between me and certain death shrinks. There is heavy ash and dust in the air from the commotion, making it even harder for me to find an unoccupied safe haven.
I can't afford to look back, the tremors and massive footsteps feel like they're right behind me.
Finally, I find a free friendly statue, holding a tome as it is posed like it was singing a holy hymn.
"You're not going to make it in time!" Chi-Yul screams at me, I can see the huge shadow of its foot in the air, ready to crush me.
"AHHHH!" a guttural howl leaves my mouth as I leap with my life on the line, bringing out any remaining strength I have left towards the serenading statue, just as the god statue slams its foot on the ground.
After a brief moment of disorientation, I know I must have made it in time as the statue in front of me has begun to sing proudly in a beautiful melody.
The god statue stops its pursuit against us, ending its murderous rampage as it goes back to sitting on its throne. The rest of the hostile statues freeze in place, as if they were waiting for the next step.
But instead of relief washing over me, I only feel a sudden burst of pain, from my lower half.
"J-Jinwoo, your leg!!" the approaching Joohee gasps out as she looks down at me in terror.
She quickly helps me lean against the now silent statue, since I'm unable to get up for some reason.
In fact I only feel anything in my left leg...
Whatever is left of my right leg is completely mangled. Crushed bones, torn muscles and a whole lot of blood begins to pool under me.
"Shit. I guess I wasn't able to dodge in time, " I sigh out after peeking down, feeling an odd serenity take over my senses.
Am I in shock right now?
The suddenly focused Joohee is now trying to stop the bleeding with her healing magic. The strange pain slightly subsides, but otherwise it doesn't do much; I would either need a hospital right this moment or an S-ranked healer to fix an injury this major on the fly.
"Maybe I should count myself lucky... the other hunters attacked by that so called god didn't survive. Thank you, Joohee. But you should save your mana," I try to stop her. "You'll just wear yourself out, the others might need your help too."
"Stop it with that!" she scolds me, her hands shaking as she focuses on my gross injury. "Just shut up and let me heal you!"
It's clear she's overworking herself and pushing past her drained limits, when blood leaks out from her eyes, nose and mouth. She's in no position to help anyone right now.
"I'm sorry, Joohee," I gently reassure her, as she coughs out blood, unable to use her magic anymore.
"What a bloodbath..." the raid leader and the rest of the hunters gather around me, the survivors looking worse for wear.
"It's not over yet, there's still a final commandment... Prove your Faith to the Lord," I urge the group not to lose focus. "We're so close to leaving with our lives."
The god statue raises its left hand up, the ground underneath us shaking violently as it summons an altar from the magical circles inscribed on the floor.
"How are we supposed to prove our faith to a bloodthirsty god?" one of the remaining hunters asks the group.
"I may not be the smartest, but even I know what move to make here," another hunter unsheathes his blade, pointing it to the raid leader Chi-Yul. "Since this god loves blood and death so much, it's fair to assume it wants a sacrifice. The hunters that died here had families, futures... If you feel responsible for their deaths, prove it to us and the god, raid leader."
"Y-you're... right. Just lower your sword and I'll go," Chi-Yul said with a pained look on his face, truly ready to die, if it meant saving the rest of our lives and atoning for his mistakes as a leader.
I don't think he should shoulder all the blame, the majority of the group voted to enter the mysterious boss room in the first place.
As he gingerly approached the altar, a bright fire lit up inside the magic circle.
"Is the ritual beginning?" the hunter who pointed his sword at Chi-Yul said out loud.
Nothing but silence echoed as the group stared at the one-armed veteran hunter.
"Hey kid, am I supposed to do something with this flame?" he turned to me, after a moment of confusion.
"Guys, can you help get me to the altar? I need to check something," I ask two of the hunters to help carry me to the circle, since I'm unable to walk on my own.
"Are you sure? But won't we all die?" one of the hunters helping me questioned my thinking.
"Well, I've been sort of right this far? I don't think anything is going to happen until we all are inside the ritual," I shrug to him, as they drop me just outside the circle. "Besides, I don't think we can wait for any outside help to rescue us. We need to do it and save ourselves."
Three more flames materialize, once the three of us get close enough to the altar. The two hunters assisting me relax, once nothing happens to them.
"I think we all need to be inside, before the final trial starts," I announce to the group, Joohee and the last remaining hunter joining us as we have no choice but play the dungeon's sick, twisted games. "If anything will happen, it'll be once all of us have a flame light up."
Once there are six total flames representing each remaining hunter, a powerful blue lightning crackles from the altar in the middle, lighting up the room in harrowing blue flames.
A deep rumbling shakes the whole boss room once again, but this time it's good news, as the two large doors swing open.
"So, can we leave now?" the other hunter holding me loosened her grip on me.
"The doors opened, but is it bait?" Chi-Yul wondered out loud, knowing this statue of god loved to torment us.
Insidious thuds quake the dungeon, as the remaining statues start marching towards us once again.
"That doesn't sound good!" the woman holding on to me makes a break for it, sprinting straight for the doors.
To our surprise, the statues didn't go for her, allowing her to leave without a fight. As she exited, the doors slightly closed, an ominous sign not everyone will be left behind.
As the group argues amongst each other on what to do next, I can't help but feel light-headed, their voices fading away in the darkness. The injuries I've sustained are proving to be too much for me to sanely handle right now. But it's weird, I can feel it within my body, the instinct that has gotten me this far, it's urging me to stay.
I can't explain why, but it's like a sixth sense that I'm supposed to be the last one remaining here. It's a warm feeling, telling me to embrace this death with open arms.
"Jinwoo! Can you hear me?!" Joohee asks me, bringing me back to the situation, where only her, Chi-Yul and I remain.
"Where did the other three go?" I tilt my head in confusion, somehow I ended up blacking out for a second.
"They left us," Chi-Yul answered, turning to me and Joohee as the statues are much closer now. "You two go while you still can, as long as one of us remains here the doors should stay open. Both of you have so much life ahead of you, so go and live it. Joohee, can you carry him out?"
"S-sure!" she gasped, falling to the ground. "No, no, no... My legs just gave out on me."
"You really overdid it by trying to heal Jinwoo," he sighed out, not expecting the two of us to both become immobile.
"You go, take Joohee and leave," I decide, realizing there's no other option. "Unless you're okay with all three of us dying here. I can't carry her with my bum leg, we're wasting time, just go!"
"No Jinwoo, you can't! I'll leave the doors open so-" Joohee's words die out as Chi-Yul knocks her out with a single blow, supporting her with his one good arm.
"I'm sorry, I'd let you have a proper goodbye, but we really are out of time," the raid leader nodded to me with a deeply grateful expression on his face.
"It's okay, just please take care of her," I nod back to him as he stands up, ready to leave.
"I will," he responds, two more flames vanishing as I'm the last hunter left.
Watching as the two evacuate the dungeon, I drag myself up to the altar, laying on it. The statues have me completely surrounded, and rather than resist I spread out, completely ready to accept my fate.
The statue of god remains seated, looking down on me with the same hideous smile. One of the guard statues picks up its sword, ready to execute me. Right as the blade would snuff out my life, everything goes black, where I find myself back where I first started, in the dimension of shadows.
A new blue window pops up
You have completed the secret quest 'Courage of the Weak'
You have acquired the qualifications to be a Player
Will you accept?
"Yes!"
Chapter 1: What Lies in the Shadows (MCU)
- Jinwoo -
Suddenly waking up in a new environment, the first thing I notice is the visible cloud of cold air with each exhale I take. For a second it felt like I should be worried about dying a miserable death in the frozen wasteland, but it honestly feels quite warmer than the shadowlands I originally came from.
Speaking of which, I'm actually alive. That wasn't just some weird nightmare. Each slightly painful intake of frozen air I breathe in reminds me this is all very real. At least there was light in this blue and icy silver wasteland compared to the black dimension that was devoid of all light.
I also can't help but notice my leg is healed, there's no blood on the simple hoodie and jeans I was in before entering the double dungeon, I'm quite amazed at my resilience to the frozen environment. I feel like a normal human would succumb to the harsh temperatures practically instantly, especially if the currently mild storm bursts into a blizzard.
Stepping through the snow, I can instantly tell my body has transformed, I'm quite a bit taller than I just was in the double dungeon, my body much more formidable.
With newfound brawn comes brains as I remember a lot more now: the truth behind the Cartenon Temple, the grim history of bloodshed between the Monarchs and the Rulers, about the sadistic god known as the Absolute Being. I have a lot of work to do if I want to become a fully fledged god of this universe.
I'll have more than enough time to get ready for my inevitable showdown with the other Monarchs, so I should just focus on what I can do here and now.
The howl of the unforgiving air reminds me, is this the red gate with the ice bears and ice elves?
You have unlocked some of your class skills
Stealth - Allows the user to physically blend in with their surroundings and hide all traces of their presence. The skill lasts as long as the user's magic can hold it
Quicksilver - Allows the user to magically increase their speed. The skill's effectiveness increases with user's power
Bloodlust - Allows the user to magically intimidate targets into submission. The skill is more effective the stronger the user is compared to the targets
Mutilation - Allows the user to aim attacks at a target's vital spots and inflict critical damage
Only some of my skills, eh? I guess I shouldn't complain, I should have plenty of time to unlock the rest of my powerful abilities. Before, when I was a low-ranked hunter, I always wanted to have unique skills. Thankfully, it seems I don't need to face off with a lunatic like Kang Taeshik to get his unique invisibility skill.
These are all skills from the original timeline, it'll be easy for me to stick to the shadows while using these powers.
I wonder what else is hidden for me to find out?
Activating [Stealth] for the first time, I feel my body instantly go translucent, until I'm completely invisible, perfectly blending into the snow storm. Powerful magic users should still be able to sense my presence, but as long as I'm careful I'll be fine, no doubt this skill will be getting a lot of use.
Toggling [Quicksilver] on, my speed doubles, allowing me to cover ground much faster. I can slowly but surely feel the magic drain from my body as I use the buffing skill. These type of abilities are perfect for utility, and both in offense and defense. I'll have to try [Bloodlust] and [Mutilation] if I run into any baddies.
Maybe I'll run into a pack of ice bears soon?
I slap myself on the face, forcing me to remind myself just because I'm not going to immediately die to the unforgiving conditions in this icy landscape, doesn't mean I can act like I'm on a relaxing vacation. Perhaps I was sent here for a reason, but either way, I need to find a way out and kill the dungeon boss.
- A half hour of hiking later -
Following my gut on which was the best direction to go, I march through the frozen tundra, taking in the hauntingly beautiful scenery. The small, steady storm of snowfall ramped up and down, unlike any storm I've ever seen.
Am I even alone? Maybe I'll luck out and run into a dungeon raiding party.
I really hope I don't walk into an ice elves hunting squad, the cunning monsters known as Hyakki, or ice slayers employ dangerous tactics, usually attacking from stealth with arrows in the distance or only ambushing up close when they know they have the numbers advantage.
I eventually discover proof of life, the snow revealing alarmingly large footprints. Whatever they were, they weren't human tracks. These seem too big for elves too, are these the bears? Or maybe these belong to a yeti? The magical snow beasts were known to be a threat among weaker hunters in gates similar to whatever frozen hells I'm in.
The footprints die out as the storm rages violently, leaving me to traverse the frigid wilderness blind once again. But not for long, there looks to be a clearing, one where the storm isn't as intense.
Blending into the environment as I approach the open space, I encounter three creatures. These must be the ones I was tracking earlier, these giant humanoids would explain the huge footprints. Whatever they were, it was clear they were natives to this barren land, each of the creatures was almost bare naked, not needing any protection in the slightest against the extreme cold. Their hard blue-grey skin had unique ridges and patterns all across their muscled bodies, with dangerous bright red eyes that pierced through the dark storm.
After a few minutes of observing them in silence, it's clear they're by themselves. I have to decide whether to attack them or not. On one hand, they look pretty tough and it's wise to not get into unneeded fights, but if I end up running into some of their friends later, it might just be easier to take them down now.
And plus, I really want to test out my new skills.
Slowly stalking up to one of them, I pull out my lone dagger, hoping it is strong enough to pierce their skin. Worst case, I'll have to fight them unarmed, but I feel considerably stronger than I did before since re-awakening, no longer feeling like a lowly E-rank.
Before my stealth wears off, I start the battle off with a sneak attack, driving my one dagger into the spine of one of the tall monsters. It screams out in pain, my hidden strike surprising the trio, giving me extra time to focus down the first enemy. With more effort than I thought would be required, I drag the dagger down as viciously as I can, blue blood spurting out from the growing wound before I immediately twist, attempting to sever its spinal cord.
When the first foe falls to ground disabled, the two remaining hostiles look at me with hate in their eyes, their arms coolly transforming into lethal icy spikes and spears.
Magically increasing my speed, I dodge their combined attacks, waiting for an opening. I activate [Bloodlust], slowing one of the two temporarily, giving me a perfect chance to use [Mutilation], where I can instinctively feel where the target's vital spots are, it felt like I was automatically aiming for them with my swift movements.
Allowing the skill to takeover, I hack and slash at it at increasing speeds, until it eventually collapses onto the ground, dead.
I swing my worn-out dagger at the last one, but it blocks me with its sharp, crystalized limb, shattering both the dagger and its ice spear into hundreds of shards. With its other arm turned deadly icicle, I barely dodge its counterattack. The very tip of its ice weapon connects, slashing my hoodie, the rags falling onto the snow.
Welp, that low-quality dagger needed to be replaced after the last raid anyway, I guess I'll have to finish this battle with my bare hands.
The frustrated frost brute wildly charges at me, missing once I reactivate my [Stealth], causing it to stop and look around in confusion.
Taking advantage of the situation, I reposition myself, getting a good angle to launch a surprise attack, aiming for its weak spots. Using every ounce of strength I have to batter the warrior until it is defeated. My hands are going to be sore after pummeling it as hard as I could, its cold skin felt like punching through a thick slab of ice.
I heavily breathe out with satisfaction in my victory, now once again it's just me and the storm. I should leave before even more show up.
Before I can disappear, the now familiar blue window pops up again in front of me
You have unlocked new job skills
Shadow Extraction - Extract the mana from a lifeless corpse to create a shadow soldier
Shadow Preservation - Shadow soldiers can be absorbed and preserved. These soldiers can be summoned at anytime or be reabsorbed for later use
Well I certainly wasn't expecting that after the brief battle, but I won't be complaining even a tiny bit.
Looking at the three dead monsters in front of me, I can now see the black mist of mana forming around each of their corpses.
Mentally trying to activate my new skill like I did the others, a notification window materializes in front of me
Please designate a command word for [Shadow Extraction]
"Arise," I utter out the first word that naturally comes to my mind.
An ominous energy explodes all around me, as the mana from each individual corpse responds to my call. It's a disturbing scene, as three shadow soldiers crawl out from their dead bodies. As expected, each new soldier towers over me, much like they did when they were alive.
The key difference this time is I'm completely connected to them, innately understanding their thoughts and feelings. Above anything else, I can sense an unbreakable loyalty from each of them, as they all drop down to a knee, where I can sense their undying fealty to me.
Shadow Soldiers added: Frost Giant x3 (Elite grade)
So these beings are called Frost Giants? The name certainly befits their appearance. Within their tough black shadow hide, an icy blue energy glows, creating a cool contrast. Their unique biology allows them to create weapons of unbreakable permafrost shadow ice.
But still, despite their badass appearance, I can't help but be a bit worried. I don't remember these specific magical beasts at all, who knows how many different types of monsters the Frost Monarch had under his command?
Before I can do anything else, the loud commotion of a great fight breaking out echoes and rumbles in the distance. If there is another fight nearby, perhaps it means I can find allies, and more importantly a way out of this annoying cold gate. I absorb my three new soldiers into my shadow, eagerly following the sounds of battle.
Carefully approaching the royal courtyard, I freeze as soon as I see who is fighting the native frost giants. This isn't a gate.
A buff fighter leading the offensive, taking on a swarm of enemies all by himself. His golden hair and red cape are instantly recognizable, as well as the powerful hammer he's using to slaughter hostiles by the dozen. Right in front of me, is the God of Thunder himself, treating the giants like they were toddlers.
Welp, I guess I'm in the Marvel universe instead of Solo Leveling, at least I have a general idea of what's going to happen in the timeline. But my very existence as a brand new Shadow Monarch fledgling might completely alter the events as I remember, leaving me in the dark of what's to come.
Oh well, I guess I should be more than comfortable in the shadows. I'll have to prepare myself for the big threats looming in this chaotic universe.
The growing battle heats up, as I watch the warriors fighting with Thor, I can see a few more Asgardians: Lady Sif, Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg and Loki. The increasing numbers starting to put a strain on the weaker members of the group.
I only have one chance to make a first impression on a few very important future deities, so I better not fuck it up.
- Thor Odinson -
- Somewhere in Jotunheim -
The enraged prince of Asgard smashed and crushed the imposing Jotun one by one, as his small band of warriors fended off the seemingly never ending force of Frost Giants. He reveled in this dangerous environment, wanting to live a long, fruitful life filled with exciting and glorious battles, one worthy of Valhalla, the famed Asgardian afterlife.
Thor was particularly irate at the moment, his coronation as the new King of Asgard was ruined when a handful of giants attempted to steal back the legendary relic, the Casket of Ancient Winters. The Jotuns would pay for their insolence, somehow managing to break into the defended weapons vault. If the Frost Giants stole even a single one of the powerful relics Asgard kept in storage, it could have ended in complete disaster.
Just how did they break into the fortified vault?
He knew one thing for certain, he wanted answers.
Answers that his old fool of a father had no interest in finding. Perhaps a millennia of ruling the Nine Realms had caused Odin to go soft; Asgard and the rest of the realms needed a strong leader now. The fact that the King of the Jotuns would dare break the truce with Odin only showed his weakened father's vulnerability even more so.
In his eyes, it was a blatant act of war. An act of cowardice that he would make sure be paid back in blood tenfold. He wanted to completely dominate them, and break their spirits. He had to ensure they would never dare cross Asgard ever again.
It only took a brief conversation he had with Laufey, leader of the Jotunheim, to transform into an all out battle, after Laufey dishonored his noble name.
The group he was leading into hostile territory started to struggle as the fight dragged on, the sheer number of Frost Giants were now overwhelming his younger brother Loki, Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. Volstagg and Fandral had suffered serious injuries, causing his party to show cracks in their defense.
"THOR!" Sif called out, trying to get him to stop fighting and retreat with them.
He ignored her pleas, lost in the glory of battle.
"WE MUST GO!" his brother, Loki, shouted at him.
"THEN GO!" he answered back, throwing his trusty Mjolnir at a cluster of giants, instantly killing the charging combatants.
- Lady Sif -
The fearsome warrior maiden held on to her dear friends as they attempted to escape; Fandral in particular had suffered nasty piercing wounds. He needed to be treated back in Asgard immediately. They had to call Heimdall before the gatekeeper would lock access of the Bifrost to them.
She couldn't help but roll her eyes in slight frustration, as this wasn't the first time Thor had gotten carried away in a battle. Nor was it the first time a simple conversation turned into an unnecessary fight thanks to the soon to be King of Asgard.
It didn't matter how many Jotun fell in battle, for every frost giant they took down, three more appeared in its place. The killing spree Thor is on only forcing the savage hostiles to fight even harder.
Despite Thor drawing the majority of the enemy attention to himself, there was still plenty of giants chasing the fleeing party, where she just realized a moment too late they just ran into a trap. Looking down, they could see a group of giants hidden under the ice ready to strike.
Just as they would have been hit hard, three jet-black warriors appeared out of nowhere, stunning both sides as the new combatants took down the frost giants.
"Those are..?" Loki gasped, observing the dark shadows with a scrutinizing eye. "These are definitely frost giants... What kind of magic is this?"
"Ahem, you guys need a hand?" the voice of a stranger shocked the party, the group turning to the source right behind them. "ARISE!"
With the mysterious man's words, the whole battlefield flipped upside down, as the corpses of countless Jotun fighters twitched. The shadows of the defeated giants rose from the dead, now acting as a proper shield between the lone group and confused enemy legion.
"What sort of necromancy is this?" Loki asked the young man, an even more perplexed expression on the trickster's face.
"It's-" the man was about to respond, until a ground-shaking rumbling erupted from the massive pillar in front of them.
The cracking ice revealed a gigantic frost beast, being forcefully woken up from its deep slumber by Laufey.
"RUN!" Volstagg cried out, as Thor and the magical shadows fought off the rest of the frost giants while the group fled to safety.
As the hulking frost beast chased them down, Sif could finally see the area where Heimdall dropped them off.
"What about Thor?" their newfound ally shouted out as they all ran back.
"Don't worry about him, the tough bastard always comes through when it matters," Fandral coughed out, a bloody smile on his face.
Almost as if Thor could hear them talking about him, a destructive thunder bolt could be felt from the distance, reassuring the group of his current status.
The resulting shockwave almost made it all the way to them, Thor's timely strike slowing down the frost beast in the process.
"HEIMDALL! OPEN THE BRIDGE!" Hogun roared out right as the group arrived at the end of the cliff.
Instead of being welcomed warmly by the Bifrost, the behemoth that was hunting them down suddenly appeared from underneath the cliff, getting ready to crush the party whole.
"GRRRRRRGH!!" the sonic boom of Thor and Mjolnir flying through the behemoth's mouth and out its neck brings the encounter to an abrupt end, the gargantuan monster falling to ground with a hefty thud.
"I'm Jinwoo, thank the gods I ran into you guys back there- Oh shit!" the warrior named Jinwoo bowed to the group of Asgardians in respect, before his eyes widened when the frost beast started to teeter off the edge of the cliff. "Dismiss regular soldiers! ARISE!"
As Jinwoo shouted, he reached forward with his right hand towards the slain beast, an almost desperate look on his face.
With a bone-chilling howl, the shadow of the frost beast answered his cursed command. The gigantic shadow crawled up the side of the cliff, just as its defeated corpse fell into the abyss. Even Thor looked at him with slight suspicion, the group now wondering just who exactly this stranger was, who was able to seamlessly call forth the souls of the dead.
"You guys probably have a ton of questions for me right now," Jinwoo shrugged his shoulders, before pointing at Laufey and the assembled army of Jotun giants. "But we should probably focus on getting out of this situation first."
The Jotunheim King smirked as he surrounded the invaders, his red eyes now laser focused on Thor, Jinwoo and the shadow soldiers.
A mighty force of dark magic struck the ground behind them with an unmistakable aura. Sif could only sigh out in relief, as the Allfather steps out on his noble, eight-legged steed Sleipnir.
"Father! We'll finish them together!" Thor shouted out triumphantly, raising his hammer into the air.
"Silence!" Odin hushed his brazen son, as everyone present stopped and stared at the protector of the Nine Realms.
Laufey, as if he was waiting for Odin to arrive this whole time, increased his size, going face to face with his fellow leader.
"Allfather, you look weary," the Jotunheim King mockingly greeted the one-eyed Odin.
"Laufey, end this now," Odin sighed out.
Even Sif noticed the rather rapid aging of the Allfather lately. It was why they accelerated Thor's ascension as new King of Asgard. But at this point, it seemed like war was inevitable, she now believed Odin would still be the superior choice as leader.
She knew if the hotheaded Thor were king, that Asgard would be marching into war the very next day.
"Your boy sought this out," Laufey scowled at them, unblinking.
"You're right," Odin nodded in agreement. "And these are the actions of a boy, treat them as such. You and I can end this here and now, before there's further bloodshed."
"We are beyond diplomacy now, Allfather," Laufey drawled in a deep guttural voice. "He'll get what he came for. War and death."
There was a brief silence in the air, it almost felt like the hail storm itself stopped with his bold words. There's no going back after this moment in time.
"So be it," Odin declared easily.
In the tense seconds after Odin's acknowledgement of war, Laufey conjured an ice shiv, aiming for the Allfather's neck with a cheap shot.
With a single movement with his symbol of Asgardian might, Odin used his spear Gungnir to summon forth a pure stream of the Bifrost, blasting Laufey away, whilst pulling in all of the invaders back to Asgard.
Sif always wanted to try using that spear, even just once. It was the predecessor of Mjolnir, both legendary weapons were forged of pure Uru, the most powerful metal made in the forge of a dying star, in Nidavellir.
- Thor Odinson -
- Asgard, Bifrost Bridge -
Thor seethed in smoldering rage as Odin forced his group back home.
How could they leave, it was the perfect opportunity to kill Laufey and avoid an all out war between realms. The delicate trust was broken the second those sneaky Jotun stepped foot in Asgard.
His father's previous words stung him with pain differently than any wound he could get in battle. The ruthlessly honest words calling him a mere boy humiliated him in front of his brother Loki and all their comrades.
No matter how many warriors he defeats, Odin would always consider him a boy, not understanding the true meaning of being a king.
"Why did you bring us back?!" he finally shouted out against his father, once they arrived safely back inside the gold and rainbow base.
"Do you realize what you've done? What you've started?" Odin looked at him with disappointment.
"I was protecting my home!" Thor retorted, unashamed defiance in his tone.
"Ha! You cannot even protect your friends!" Odin scoffed, throwing the Bifrost Sword Hofund at Heimdall. "How can you hope to protect a kingdom? Get him to a healing room, NOW!"
Sif and the Warriors Three hurried back into the city, carrying the bleeding Fandral out, as Heimdall watched over the remaining group inside the Bifrost gate.
"There won't be a kingdom to protect, if you're afraid to act," he continued to bark at his father. "The Jotuns must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you!"
"That's pride and vanity talking, not leadership. You've forgotten everything I've taught you about a warrior's patience," his father replied in frustration.
"While you wait and be patient, the Nine Realms laugh at us. The old ways are done. You'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls," Thor mocked his father.
"YOU ARE A VAIN, GREEDY, CRUEL BOY!" Odin snapped, his voice booming throughout the sphere.
"AND YOU ARE AN OLD MAN AND A FOOL!" he shouted back at his father, shaking with emotions.
"Yes. I was a fool, to think you were ready," Odin muttered to himself.
"Father," Loki finally spoke after staying silent during the argument.
"HEY!" Odin growled at Loki, pointing at him to stay quiet and out of it. "Thor Odinson, you have betrayed the express command of your King. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!"
His father picked up and slammed the spear Gungnir, activating the Bifrost with it.
"You are unworthy of these realms! You are unworthy of your title!" Odin continued, ripping off Thor's enchanted Asgardian armor. "You are unworthy, of the loved ones you have betrayed. I now take from you your power! In the name of my father, and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!"
Taking back Mjolnir by force, Odin banished Thor from the realm, his body sent flying into the Bifrost.
- Jinwoo -
I stay silent as I watch the intense scene between Asgardian royalty unfold before me. Watching Odin in action with my very own eyes reminds me there's levels to this, and an older, weakened Odin is still not one to be fucked with.
Honestly, I should be on my toes. This universe has a bunch of pitfalls filled with danger, from a genocidal mad titan to celestial beings and their world ending trials. But I can't help but get excited, if I can successfully unlock and master the deathly shadow powers, there's no limit to what I can do in this magical universe.
If I can secure Odin's support here, I'll have the protection of one of the strongest beings while I'm at my most vulnerable, as a Monarch in training.
"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor," Odin whispered, enchanting Mjolnir with his words, before he threw the hammer to follow Thor through the portal.
"Father, if I may-" Loki interjected, awkwardly looking at me and Odin, unsure of how to progress.
"Son, we shall talk after my own private meeting with our young guest," Odin gave me a polite smile, waiting for Loki to exit, leaving me alone with the Allfather himself. "Forgive me for that display, Thor still has much to learn."
"It's no problem at all, Allfather. I must thank you for the timely save against the frost giants," I make sure to show respect to the King of the realms, who is in a much better mood after turning his insanely powerful son into a mortal as punishment. "I imagine we have quite a bit to discuss."
How should I deal with Odin? I see no reason to lie to him, having his favor should only bring me great boons as I try to get stronger.
"I believe we do," he chuckled to himself, using his one good eye to evaluate me. "You gave Heimdall quite the scare earlier, when you first arrived in Jotunheim. And even now, I can sense the small army within your shadow, may I see them with my own eye?"
"Of course, I wouldn't try to deceive you in your own kingdom," I respond, closing my eyes as I bring out the shadows I kept from Jotunheim.
The two dozen frost giant shadows I saved step out first, puffing their chests at Odin. I had a lot more saved, but had to release more than half of my giants just so I can summon this one frost beast. Behind my Jotun shadows, my gargantuan beast shadow towers over everyone, it has to crouch down to avoid hitting the roof of the Bifrost sphere gate.
"Fascinating. There is no limit to your power, it's quite remarkable to say the least," Odin says as he studies my summons closely, clearly intrigued by the one of a kind ability. "It wouldn't be odd at all if I crowned you here and now as a young God of Death."
"I appreciate you treating me as an equal, despite the gap in our powers right now. I know I'd need a ton of help to reach a level that commands that amount of respect," I feel at ease with the Allfather. "In fact, I have a proposal for you, since you've been kind to me so far. I think I can be a great help to Asgard in a way Thor or even Loki couldn't."
"Oh?" he looked at me with increased interest.
"Hela, Surtur, and Ragnarök. I can help you since I have my very own special relationship with Death," I pause, gesturing to my shadow army in its infancy. "I just need time to grow stronger, with your help I should be able to eventually get to a level where even your daughter has to respect my authority as a fellow God of Death. Ideally, before she completely drains you of your life force."
It might be a risky play to bring up potential sore spots, but if I'm upfront and honest with Odin, I bet he'll do right by me.
"Hmph, it seems you know a lot more than I thought," Odin relaxed as he thought over my words. "I shall place my trust in you, Jinwoo. As King of Asgard, and the Protector of the Nine Realms, you have my word. I'll assist you in anyway I can."
"I truly appreciate that, Allfather. Can you start by sending me to Thor?" I stretch my arms, getting my body ready to take another trip through the Bifrost. "By helping Thor during his exile, we'll both be more than ready for the upcoming war with Jotunheim."
"I look forward to seeing the results, Jinwoo," Odin gives me a genuine smile, activating the magic in his spear. "Good luck."
"I'll see you soon, Odin," I smirk, feeling the Bifrost take me away.
It's showtime.
- Jane Foster -
- New Mexico, USA -
"Go!" Jane ordered her new intern, Darcy Lewis to drive towards the anomaly. "Get closer!"
The infrared camera in her hand stays steady despite the rocky driving, the astrophysicist laughing as she captures valuable footage for her theories. Erik Selvig, the Scandinavian scientist sits busy in the backseat as he checks the thermonuclear readings.
As she continues to watch through her camera, an unnatural thunderbolt strikes in front of them, causing their driver to pull a sudden U-turn.
"What are you doing?!" she screams at Darcy, as she tries to get ahold of the steering wheel, to go back and get closer to the irregularity.
"I'm not dying for six college credits!" Darcy shrieked, tugging on the wheel for control.
Two more abnormal thunder blasts hit the ground, sounding like they tore the sky open.
"AAAAHH!" both girls screamed as the van swerved out of control, the silhouette of a tall man in the middle of the storm slamming into the swerving vehicle with force.
After a moment of silence where they couldn't believe that just happened, Jane, Darcy and Erik scramble out of the car to check on the stranger they hit.
"I think that was legally your fault!" Darcy squeaked out as she grabbed the first aid kit.
"Holy shit! You actually hit him!" a fourth voice unknown to the group, surprised them. "Eh, actually, I think he'll be fine, all things considered."
Another man, with black hair, seemingly unhurt snorts out loud, casually poking the prone guy they slammed into.
"Where the hell did you guys come from?!" she yelled out in disbelief.
"Heh, it's a long story," the younger man flashed a grin. "We were storm chasing, and things got out of hand. You think we can get a ride out of here?"