Alfheim, located in the upper reaches of the World Tree, was a small, independent realm consisting solely of a verdant continent. At this moment, however, it was entirely surrounded by a writhing mass of insect swarms.
As everyone boarded Naxxramas, the flying fortress activated a shimmering green energy shield around its perimeter, slowly ascending into the depths of space.
"The journey to the Elven Realm is a long one. This is Heimdall of Asgard. We'll need his guidance to reach Alfheim, and if any of you have questions, feel free to ask him."
Heimdall, clad in simple linen robes, gazed at them with his piercing orange eyes.
"I know him! I read about him in a book on Norse mythology. He's the gatekeeper of Olympus!"
"You're mistaken. That's Greek mythology."
"Oh…" Scott Lang's face flushed with embarrassment.
Scott, the second Ant-Man, was not an Avenger. He had joined this mission solely because Tony Stark had sought out Dr. Hank Pym, who, in turn, had convinced Scott to participate. Given that the request came from his father-in-law, Scott had little choice but to agree—without fully grasping the dangers involved.
Doctor Strange, on the other hand, was here at the behest of the Ancient One, who had seemingly foreseen something significant.
Tony scrutinized Heimdall's glowing eyes, then leaned in toward Garus and whispered, "Gar, I don't like his eyes. Feels like he's seeing right through me."
"It's fine. His sight extends across the entire galaxy. He probably noticed you long before you ever left Earth."
"That's… unsettling. Are you trying to reassure me?" Tony shuddered slightly.
"Alright, let's not dwell on that." Garus gestured toward a high-ranking Sarlaine beside him. "If anyone needs to rest, follow him. He'll take you to your quarters."
Garus placed no restrictions on their movements—there was nothing here that needed hiding. Dr. Connors' laboratory was secured deep within the fortress, accessible only through a concealed teleportation array.
...
In Alfheim, the battle had reached its most critical stage. Though the Brood King Annihilus had managed to defeat Hela in their previous clash, he had not emerged unscathed. The Death Goddess had left him grievously wounded, his entire body corroded by necrotic energy. Even his Cosmic Control Rod had dimmed, its energy reserves depleted. This was an unprecedented situation for the Brood King, making him wary—an unexpected advantage that had allowed the allied forces to hold out for so long.
Even with the arrival of the Kree and Asgardian warriors, the tide had not turned in their favor. Their efforts merely delayed the inevitable destruction.
The shimmering shield protecting Alfheim pulsed with alternating hues of green and blue, yet it continued to shrink under the relentless onslaught of the swarm. Beyond its edges, unshielded land crumbled into dust, devoured by the ravenous insects.
"We must have killed thousands of them by now, right?" An elven soldier looked up at the sky, now completely blackened—not with clouds, but with an unending horde of chitinous monstrosities.
The captain of the guard shot an icy glare at the two soldiers conversing nearby. "Stay focused!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The two quickly returned to manning the city's defensive cannons, unleashing a barrage of energy blasts into the swarm. Beams of light shot through the shield effortlessly, striking the Brood and sending torrents of green ichor raining down. No precision was needed—each blast felled a swath of enemies in an instant.
High atop a massive, ancient tree, Njord, the Vanir God of the Sea, stood alongside Thor and the Elven King. Worry etched across Njord's face as he spoke, "If this continues, the Nine Realms will cease to exist. We cannot withstand this swarm. If only Odin were still here…"
Though Njord harbored grievances against Odin, he never doubted the All-Father's might. There had been a time when Odin had nearly unified the Nine Realms by sheer force.
Thor replied, "There's still hope. Some friends of mine from Midgard are on their way. With their help, we'll drive the Brood back."
The Avengers were powerful, but even they would struggle against the endless swarm. Thor's confidence stemmed not from them, but from Garus and his inexhaustible army of undead.
"You mean the Vishanti?" Njord and the Elven King remained expressionless. "Unless Agamotto himself appears, they won't make a difference. The true leader of the Brood hasn't even revealed itself yet."
Thor frowned. "Agamotto? You mean the descendant of the Ancient One? No, I'm talking about humans. The Avengers, and… another figure even I cannot fully comprehend."
Midgard—Earth—was the weakest of the Nine Realms, yet its connection to the Prime Universe made it a constant battleground. In the end, all factions had agreed upon a truce: none would interfere with Earth's affairs directly.
"Thor, you're even more naive than your father."
A sudden thunderclap interrupted them.
Before Njord could react, a bolt of lightning struck him directly, sending shards of bark flying as he was slammed into the tree trunk. His sea-blue hair was now tinged with charred black.
"How dare you insult my father!" Thor's grief over Odin's death surged into fury, and his body crackled with electricity.
"Enough! Both of you!" Thick vines lashed out, restraining the two combatants. "What are you fighting about at a time like this?!"
A tremor rumbled through the ground.
In the distance, the land at the edge of the continent suddenly collapsed. Entire sections of hastily constructed defenses plummeted into the abyss.
A panting elven general rushed forward. "Your Majesty! The second line of defense has fallen! The troops are retreating to the final barrier!"
The Elven King let out a bitter chuckle as he surveyed his panicked soldiers. The once-magnificent elven lands had shrunk to a fraction of their former size. Only a few cities remained, and even those were doomed to fall soon.
"Thor, even if your friends arrive, they'll be too late. The swarm will hinder them. We have, at most, a day before we become nothing more than breeding grounds for the Zerg."
Thor had only been able to reach Alfheim because the swarm had yet to fully encircle the continent. In mere days, however, their numbers had multiplied beyond comprehension.
Naxxramas was enormous, but without an interstellar jump drive installed, its speed was sluggish by cosmic standards.
"Heimdall, what do you see?"
Thor turned toward Heimdall, who stood alone on the platform, gazing into the vast emptiness beyond.
"Alfheim is dying. Time is running out." Heimdall's expression was unreadable, but internally, even he felt the creeping grip of dread.
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TN: This fanfic has been fully translated and is available on my Patreon —— PATREON.COM / PRIMALDEMON