The elevator doors opened into a decimated space. Burst water pipes had covered the floor in a thin layer of water; sparking wires dangled from the ceiling waiting to fry someone, and the scent of raw sewage was thick in the air. Fenris Wolf had gone on a rampage, leaving only the support columns for the upper floors intact.
With a wave of my hand, wind magic blew away the putrid smell. “Gee, thanks for telling me this floor was trashed worse than an end-of-semester frat party…”
<It looks worse than it really is. Once you calm that stupid mutt, my repair drones will have this place looking brand new in a few hours.> (Cleare)
<A few weeks, maybe…> (Luxion)
The two bickered over estimated repair times for a few moments before a low growl came from within the darkness. Without lights to see, I could only work off the occasional sparks that lit the area. I stepped out of the elevator and increased my stature back to my Primarch size.
“Fenris, I’m here to speak with you, not fight. Please don’t force me to get violent.” I raised my hands to show I meant no harm. “You must be very confused right now. This is not Asgard, and you cannot return home. Please let me explain everything to you and answer other questions you may have. All I ask is that you remain neutral toward my comrades and me.”
My words were met with silence. Unsure if Fenris was pinned down by debris or too exhausted to move, I strode forward to search for her. After a few steps, a gigantic shadow lumbered out of the gloom.
Illuminated by the pale light of my armor, her grievous state was immediately visible. Shattered rib bones protruded from her chest cavity; deep gashes ran the length of her body, and one of her eyes had been gouged out. Whatever she had fought last, Fenris had only just escaped with her life.
“Shit… May I—”
I did not get to finish my sentence before Fenris collapsed into the water. Without waiting for her approval, I rushed forward to treat her wounds. My healing arts were immediately rebuffed by her body; healing potions were ineffective as well.
<The Fenris Wolf is Asgardian; she has heightened magic resistance. If you want to heal it, you’ll need to form a contract with a Magical Principality. I recommend either the Vishanti or the Seraphim. Both will probably offer their help, for a price...> (Luxion)
In contrast to DC’s reliance on ancestral lineage and innate genetic spark, Marvel’s magic system was much more accessible. Any mortal with enough discipline, relentless study, and sheer will could carve out a path into the mystic arts.
Yet mortal study only went so far. For sorcerers seeking shortcuts, or those hungry for cosmic-level power, the true ceiling lay in patronage: the Principalities. These ancient, extradimensional titans—spanning elder gods, cosmic concepts, and sovereign demon lords like Cyttorak, the Vishanti, or Dormammu—held dominion over the foundational laws of the multiverse. Tapping into their domains offered godlike power, turning an ordinary scholar into a conduit for reality-warping power, provided they were willing to pay whatever metaphysical toll such entities demanded.
I stroked the whimpering canine’s fur. “I’ve avoided calling upon them because I intended to keep them in reserve until my back was against the wall. Now, because I’m genetically linked to you, I have to fear possible retribution for your past mistake. In case you’ve forgotten, you brought the dimensional conqueror Davoth into this universe.”
<Ah… that is a fair point. What do you propose then? If nothing is done, Fenris Wolf will die here.> (Luxion)
“There is one potential Principality that may offer its aid. I am uncertain if they are one, but it’s my best chance.” With both hands pressed into Fenris’ back, I closed my eyes and meditated.
‘I invoke the ancient name of the Skyfather! Heed my call and lend me your strength. One of your own, Fenris Wolf, lies before me, broken and dying. My power alone won’t be enough to save her. I know your relationship with her may be precarious, but Fenris is your granddaughter.’
In the past, I had read somewhere that the heads of various Pantheons could be called upon like Principalities. It was a long shot, but calling upon Odin was my best option. The only trouble was, Fenris was fated to kill and devour her grandfather one day. If his fear of death superseded their familial bonds, she was as good as dead.
As the seconds ticked by, I feared Odin was dead or was turning a blind eye to her. When I was about to give in and call upon the Vishanti, a brilliant golden light engulfed my body. A bottomless wellspring of power flowed into me as an old, weary voice spoke.
“Child of Man, I have heard your call for aid. Use this fraction of my power to save Fenris. While our history is riddled with strife, she cannot be allowed to perish this day. Aside from myself, she may be the only Asgardian left in the universe. Our home was destroyed, and our people are lost on the winds of space and time. Safeguard Fenris; give her a life better than she had in Asgard.”
“I vow, on the names of Aremus and Doom, I will protect her to the best of my ability.”
There was a brief hesitation before Odin responded.
“You are a descendant of Doctor Doom and the Sorceress Supreme? These are trying times if I am forced to entrust an Asgardian to your care, but I’ve little choice. When you can, I strongly recommend seeking an audience with the Vishanti. The universe needs a Sorcerer Supreme more than ever…”
“You refer to the Dark Lord Davoth, I presume? I’ve already had the displeasure of meeting him. Ten thousand years ago, he struck me down with the All-Black Sword, condemning me to endless torture within the Headless Celestial. Sixteen years ago, my soul freed itself from that hell and reincarnated into this body.”
In the primordial void, dominion was split between the Celestials, the dark god Knull, and the solitary entity Nemesis. When Nemesis committed cosmic suicide, her death gave birth to the Big Bang and the seven Infinity Stones. The Celestials seized this burst of light to shape the universe, igniting a war with Knull, who sought to keep the void untouched.
During the conflict, Knull decapitated a Celestial and converted the severed head into a forge, crafting the All-Black Necrosword from his living shadow and cosmic remnants. Though Knull was eventually betrayed and sealed away by his symbiotes, the god-killing blade passed down through generations until it reached Davoth.
The sword’s terrifying secret lay in its unseen link to the headless Celestial body. Far from dead, the headless husk served as a metaphysical engine. Every soul slain by the Necrosword was sucked into the Celestial and subjected to an intensifying loop of eternal torture. This bottomless anguish fueled the All-Black, funneling tremendous power into the sword’s bearer. In Davoth’s hands, it had most likely gorged itself on his victims and pushed him beyond most divine entities.
“The Dark Lord Davoth? The Headless Celestial? These names are unknown to me. Is one or both of them connected to the ongoing incursions into various higher dimensions? If so, tell me all you can about them. The Council of Godheads has been trying to piece together how this calamity came to pass.”
The Council of Godheads was just that, a council composed of the heads of every pantheon that had ever been worshipped on Earth. When a threat greater than what one pantheon could handle alone emerged, they convened to converse and exchange information. They had convened only a few times throughout history, so it was a big deal that they were meeting now. It meant things beyond our reality were in worse shape than I feared.
“The Dark Lord Davoth is the ruler of a realm called Jekkad. Eons ago, it was once a paradise for all who worshipped Davoth…”
I gave Odin a brief summary of who Davoth and the Headless Celestial were. My information was limited, as I was not a diehard fan of either series, but it was better than nothing. When I got to the part about torturing souls to extract their life essence, Odin had me stop. He expanded our telepathic connection so that the other Godheads could hear.
“It is far worse than we feared…” The worry in Odin’s tone was transmitted through our link. “We must locate the Headless Celestial and sever its connection to the Necrosword. A direct clash with Davoth will end poorly for us.”
“Agreed, but tracking the entity will not be easy. The Celestials went missing with our people.” The Celtic God Dagda leaned back into his throne.
A pair of hands clapped, stopping the conversation from veering in the wrong direction.
“We should count our blessings. This mortal has given us more information than we’ve been able to find in millennia.” The Hindu God Vishnu redirected his peers to a positive outlook. “As a token of gratitude, we should form a contract with this mortal. If either side is in need, they can call upon the other for aid, power, or wisdom.”
“Agreed.” The various Godheads nodded in consensus.
Now that they had found someone who knew what was happening, they refused to let him slip away. In addition, as they were preoccupied with other pressing matters, having a mortal who could travel the stars looking for their missing people was invaluable. While his lineage was an issue, they gave him the benefit of the doubt, as the sins of the ancestors do not belong to the living.
“It is reassuring to know I can call upon you in my time of need. This jigsaw universe is full of danger that does not belong here.” I chose to divulge the truth to them. Better to be upfront than hide the truth and have it bite me in the rear later. “As it appears you are clueless on how things got to this point, I can shed light on that too. It started over ten thousand years ago…”
---Fifteen Minutes Later---
When my recounting of Doom’s explanation finished, the gods fell silent.
They had wondered why their memories were disjointed and fragmented; now they knew the truth. Each was a fusion of several variants, and the memories of their variants now belonged to them. It was reassuring to know they were not slipping into insanity, but it also made this situation much worse.
“You’ve given us a lot to digest, Child of Man. Is there anything you wish to know before we part?”
“Yes, but I fear I won’t like the answer.” I sighed. “Tell me, what is the current situation of the other dimensions? I intend to form contracts with other Principalities, and would like to know what to expect before making contact. If they seek revenge for what happened, I will leave them be.”
“You are wise to think of that possibility, but you’ve nothing to fear…” Buddha gave me the big picture.
Jekkad’s forces were engaged in a multi-pronged assault on several dimensions. At first, people had brushed off the invasion as a newcomer trying to gain notoriety among the higher realms. It was only when over a dozen lesser realms had been erased that they took things seriously. A few prominent figures went to confront the upstarts; they were slain and their realms consumed.
In the wake of their deaths, the higher planes of existence cast aside their differences to fight a common foe. They had expected to overpower the threat and quickly subdue it, but things did not play out that way. Their united front was met by countless legions of powerful creatures, some of whom resembled twisted versions of fallen allies. As the fighting began, the higher realms came to realize their superior strength did little to cull the endless waves of enemies. One by one, they fell until the survivors were forced to abandon the assault and return to their realms.
Since then, Jekkad’s forces had brought countless dimensions to ruin, growing their power and strength with each one. At their current speed, the higher planes of existence would collapse in less than fifty mortal years. The remaining Principalities were desperate for champions as they could not bring their full power to bear outside their respective domains. As no mortal alive knew who they were, death was all that awaited them until now.
Once he finished talking, Odin and the other Godheads left me to finish healing Fenris. By now, her wounds were almost completely healed, and her breathing was no longer shallow.
“Are you awake, Fenris Wolf?” I rubbed her back. “Please say yes because your body will not fit in the tiny service elevator.”
“I am…” Fenris released an exhausted groan. She looked back at me with wary eyes. “What does the old bastard have in store for me now? He has never shown me pity or mercy before, so there must be a price.”
I shook my head. “There are no strings attached. Asgard is no more; it appears Odin and you may be the only remaining Asgardians in the universe. He saved you for that reason and asked me to give you a better life than you had on Asgard.”
A dry laugh escaped her mouth. Fenris refused to believe a single word.
“I suppose being cast out into the mortal realm is better than being chained up in isolation.” She rolled onto her stomach. “If you dare try to put chains or a collar on me, I will—”
Her voice faltered as she looked into my eyes.
A fellow kindred spirit, someone who had been beaten down and ridiculed by those who were supposed to love them, stared back at her. It was the first time Fenris had met someone who understood her pain.
“On my honor, I swear to never imprison or torture you.” I met her gaze. “All that I ask for is mutual respect and help to save our reality from collapse.”
Fenris gave me a toothy smile. “I have one condition. Wherever you go, I will go with you. During my years of imprisonment, my greatest wish was to forsake Asgard and travel the universe. The stars make for shit company, so I choose you instead.”
I nodded. Before my eyes, the enormous wolf transformed into a beastman, similar to Roxanne. Her curves and ears were inferior to Roxanne, but she was still stunning. Her Asgardian physique would be an invaluable addition to our team. The only concern now was how much would her food bills run me?
Join the Discord group: .gg/YTYN36rRzZ
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter