The others gathered quickly, regrouping on the foggy coastline. The ocean behind them was eerily calm, as if unaware of the battle still raging beneath its surface. Ahead stretched a road winding up the cliffs toward a distant settlement—New Asgard.
Zemo wiped the salt from his mask and adjusted his coat. "If the legends are true," he said, "that's where we'll find our transport."
"Assuming they let us in," Kamala said, glancing nervously at the weapons strapped to Blade Knight's back and Shalltear's crimson eyes glinting in the gray light.
"They'll let us in," I said confidently. "They won't have a choice."
Hours later, the group reached the massive gates of New Asgard. The once-proud village was now a fortress, surrounded by walls built from ship hulls, and beyond the barricades, the remains of slain zombies were impaled on pikes—grim warnings to anyone who dared approach. The stench of rot mixed with the ocean breeze, giving the place an eerie silence.
As the group approached, several armed Asgardian guards stepped forward, spears drawn. From among them emerged Valkyrie, her expression hard and tired. Her armor bore scratches and dried blood, and her hand rested easily on the hilt of her sword, Dragonfang.
"Stop right there," she ordered. "You're not welcome here."
Kamala stepped forward quickly, hands raised in peace. "Please—we're not here to cause trouble. We need your help. We're trying to stop this apocalypse before it reaches every world."
Valkyrie's eyes narrowed. "Every mortal who's come here says the same thing. And every mortal brings death with them. New Asgard is no place for the dying."
Kate joined Kamala, her voice sharp with frustration. "We're not just anyone! We've fought through hell to get here. We just need a ship—one ship—to get to space!"
Valkyrie's expression didn't soften. "Then you can swim. Because if you don't leave right now, I'll make you."
Before tensions could flare further, Blade Knight stepped forward. "We are no ordinary mortals," he said, his voice deep and commanding. Slowly, he extended a hand, and a ripple of divine energy filled the air. "We serve higher powers."
From behind him, the spectral form of Khonshu materialized—a towering lunar god cloaked in silver light, his beak-faced visage gleaming beneath the cloudy sky. The guards stumbled back, murmuring in shock, and even Valkyrie's grip on her sword tightened.
"Khonshu," she breathed. "It's been a long time since one of your kind walked this realm."
The moon god tilted his head. "You remember well, Shield-Maiden of Asgard," Khonshu said, his voice echoing like thunder. "These mortals have my blessing. They fight not for greed or conquest, but for balance."
The others looked around in disbelief—Kamala, Kate, Yelena, and the rest could only stare. None of them had seen Khonshu before; only I and Shalltear knew what kind of presence the god of the moon carried. His aura alone could make the stars dim.
Valkyrie's gaze flickered from the moon god to me. Her jaw tightened. "And what of him?" she asked coldly. "He gives me the creeps. And that one"—she pointed her sword toward Shalltear—"is undead. You think I'll let a vampire into my city?"
Khonshu's eyes glowed brighter, and his voice dropped to a deep, resonant growl. "They are under my protection."
The Asgardian guards hesitated, glancing nervously at their queen. For a long, tense moment, Valkyrie said nothing. Then she sheathed Dragonfang with a sharp motion.
"Fine," she said finally. "But if they so much as look at anyone the wrong way, I'll cut their heads off myself."
I smiled faintly. "Noted."
"Welcome to New Asgard," Valkyrie said dryly, turning toward the gates. "Try not to make me regret it."
As the massive doors creaked open, the group exchanged relieved glances. Kamala exhaled, Yelena nudged me with a smirk, and Shalltear stepped closer, eyes gleaming with possessive pride.
~~~
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