Warloki WIP
CW: Light gore, major character death
Asgard was once a place that was said to give people hope, a place that birthed gods, goddesses, and warriors. Yet now, now it was a place that reeked of death.
Despite this foulness that permeated the very feeling of the noble realm, it still held a deceptive beauty. Towering golden spirals that seemed to reach for the heavens, grandiose buildings that could house the greatest of feasts, sparring ranges that spanned across large lots of land. Asgard was beautiful, but Adam knew that the one who ruled it was not. He could sense the darkness that encircled he and his fellow Guardians the moment their ship began the approach to the mighty kingdom.
"Ah, the Guardians of the Galaxy. I had a feeling you may appear before me."
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Adam tensed as a ghostly illusion of the Trickster God appeared before him. Rocket had grabbed his gun, climbing up onto Groot's shoulders, Mantis seemed to stiffen, and Peter clicked down his helmet with a mechanical whir. Even though Adam knew and recognized that this configuration was nothing to worry over, it still instilled a fear within him. Stepping in front of the others, Adam stood before the God. "We only come to talk, God of Mischief, this conflict that is purging and shifting our realities is a threat to everyone. Including Asgard and its people."
"There is no threat that I cannot vanquish, for I am more than a mere Trickster God. Such a simple name for someone with such feats as I. But yes, come forward and propose to me an offer out of desperation, it will be most amusing."
Golden eyes tracked the movement of the verdant specter, watching as the illusion circled him and him alone before vanishing as if it had never been present in the first place. The Guardians released a breath in unison, settling back down as their ship flew to dock at Asgard's port. "Rocket, I suggest you stay with the ship. I do not trust we will not witness combat."
The anthropomorphic procyonid seemed less than pleased to be asked to stay behind, leveling Adam with a deadly side eye as he hopped up into his chair in the cockpit. "Oh sure! Make the little guy stay behind. Whose to say I can't handle myself out there, I'll take his helmet and beat him with it." Rocket scoffed, settling his gun down on the console and turning away from everyone else to watch their descent. Peter laughed, clearly amused, and slowly walked over to scratch between Rocket's ears and make him feel better.
He almost got his hand bitten in return.
"Be calm, Rocket. We may need you to-" Mantis' attempt to soothe her friend was instead met with collective silence as a sudden darkness overshadowed what was once bright and golden.
"I am Groot?"
"Yeah...I see it too, buddy."
The ship shook as it came down to land, the glass panel of the flight deck allowing them to look out and see none other than the glowing green eyes of Hela's undead war hound. The large canine leaned forward to sniff at the barrier between he and them, growling as he turned to walk a measurable distance away. In the space created, Adam saw the Goddess of Death herself; her crown glinted in the Asgardian sunlight, skin pale but not ghastly, and her piercing gaze assessed them as if they were naught but more souls to feed her Realm.
"Well... there's no time like the present, let's get moving, I don't think this kinda hot scary death lady is going to wait very long. Rocket, drop the ramp." Peter moved to stand before the inclined plane. The ship opened slowly, the hydraulics opening with a whir and a click as the ramp gave them access to exit onto this foreign soil.
Adam moved behind Peter, flanking him with Mantis while Groot held the rear position. The air smelled rather sweet, like many ripe fruits were in bloom; yet, as they approached the Death Goddess, the scent was more sour, more sickly. "My brother tells me you've come to propose him a deal?" Hela's raspy tone was unamused, her hip jutting out to the side whilst she absentmindedly checked her nails. "I do not see what any of you could possibly have to offer. Any of you, except perhaps.." Her gaze trailed over them until coming to a halt on Adam.
"You..I've heard of you. Avatar of Life...Master of All Souls." She sneered, as if the very existence of him was a threat. "You can offer my brother something worth while." Hela shifted her hips, suddenly more squared off, like she was preparing to fight.
"Adam...we should lea-" Mantis' warning was cut off by the sound of a sword sheathing itself in flesh, a pained yelp leaving her lips as they became stained with the color of her own blood. Adam watched as Peter caught her body before she could hit the ground, crimson coating the leather of his jacket, leaking out in a puddle as the sword that had embedded itself in Mantis' chest vanished in a plume of smoke.
A thorny wall got put up in front of them, continuing upward and outward until they were cocooned within a circle of roots. "Mantis!" Peter tried to put his hand over the wound, but it did not stop the blood loss. "Adam, do something!" He shouted, his breathing ragged as the warlock dropped to his knees beside Mantis. His hands glowed with cosmic might, the golden light almost blinding within their dark confines. "We never should've come here, what were we thinking?! Mantis, Mantis, keep breathing!" Adam felt sick, his power, he felt it coursing through him; felt it pulling at Mantis' departing soul in an attempt to keep her tethered whilst the cosmic energy seeped into her chilling body. He felt all of it, and yet, the light flickered and fizzled out, leaving them in almost complete darkness.
"Why isn't it working?! Why isn't it-" The walls of their temporary sanctuary shook, the sounds of claws and teeth digging into the wood a sign as to what was happening.
"P..Peter..?" Mantis voice was soft, almost unheard over all of the commotion. Before she could speak again, a barrage of swords impacted the tree wall, and within a heartbeat, they exploded. The blast burst open the thick wood, sending Adam flying back. He groaned as he rolled onto his back, gaze shifting to witness Peter attempt to shoot at the Goddess only for every bullet to simply be rendered null against her armor. Looking to his other side, he saw Groot pushing at their ship, only for Fenrir to clamp his jaws down on his arm and yank him back. His heartbeat was loud in his chest, ears ringing as he struggled to push himself up.
"You won't be able to save your friends, Warlock. Your powers aren't as perfect as they were written out to be..hm?" Adam's face twisted into anger for a brief moment, before he steeled away that darkness and rose to his feet. Hela grinned, clearly enjoying the conflict, the thrill of combat. "Come forth, try to give me a real challenge."
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