(AN: Sorry for missing Friday's chapter. The prolonged government shutdown led to my flight being cancelled due to a lack of air traffic controllers. Since air travel wasn't an option, I had to drive my ass cross-country to get to and from training. One of the worst experiences of my life…)
---Thirty Minutes Later, Imynusoph, Galactic Republic---
Entering Imynusoph's atmosphere, we came face to face with our target. Unlike the pristine, armored form from the comics, this variant was encased within space debris and shipwrecks. More akin to a Space Hulk than a corpse, the current version was a mountain of derelict ships and space junk. The only trait it shared with its comic counterpart was the living black ooze that leaked from every gap in its surface.
"The man of the hour has finally arrived!", Aphrodite announced, flying toward us with a group of goddesses in tow. "Who are these unusual women in your company? Are they members of your harem?"
"Yes, we are.", Isha answered, moving between us like a shield. "Loki told us all about you. State your business and get lost. We don't like homewreckers."
For the past thirty minutes, Loki briefed her harem sisters on who to look out for among the strike force. At the forefront of the list, the Greek goddess Aphrodite was the biggest threat of them all. Her reputation for destroying happy marriages, over four hundred to date, made her a pariah among her fellow goddesses. The few who still chose to interact with her were all lonely, single women looking to snag the brokenhearted men she left in her wake.
"I am not sure what Loki has told, but I am not a homewrecker.", Aphrodite said with an innocent smile. "All I want is to have a friendly chat with your husband. Nothing bad will happen; I give you my word."
"Loki was right. You are a seasoned vixen.", Slaanesh remarked, mildly impressed with her act. "I give you a six out of ten for your performance. For next time, consider conveying less innocence and more sincerity."
Taken aback by Slaanesh's honest critique, Aphrodite's façade faltered for a moment. As a brief flash of annoyance and rage crossed her face, it was clear to everyone she was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"That is enough, Aphrodite.", Hera snapped, teleporting behind the goddess and seizing her by the ear. "This is not the time nor place for your games. We are here to save our kinsmen; don't forget that. If you cause any problems… I will leave you in Nyx's capable hands."
"Unhand me at once, ugly hag!", Aphrodite hissed, her façade shattering completely.
Apologizing on Aphrodite's behalf, Hera hauled her off with an annoyed expression. As she did, Aphrodite continued to hurl curses and insults at her.
"Victor and family, I apologize for her antics. Aphrodite becomes an entirely different person when she finds a new man to pursue.", Zeus sighed, joining us with Odin, Thor, and the other pantheon leaders. "Our men are in position. We can begin this operation at any time."
"We will need about ten to fifteen minutes to prepare the spell.", the Daedric Prince Azura stated. "How long will you need to carve through the rocky outer layer and create our breach? We must sync up perfectly to make this work."
"We can't say for sure. No one told us the corpse was encrusted with all this crap.", Zeus replied, frustrated with Hermes' laziness.
Turning to his unbothered son, who was floating nearby, Zeus' face contorted in rage.
"You pull this crap so often, I should have known there would be complications. Why can't you ever be bothered to report ALL the details?", Zeus shouted.
Hermes merely offered a lazy shrug and drifted away without a care in the world. Hermod, his Asgardian counterpart, enjoyed great respect from his family and peers, whereas Hermes remained little more than a glorified errand boy. Countless millennia of unfair treatment turned him into a bitter man who carried out his duties halfheartedly.
"Our best option will be to target the clusters of shipwrecks. If we are lucky, residual fuel and unexploded ordnance will detonate, clearing a path forward.", Thor suggested, trying to keep things on track. "Thoughts?"
Collectively nodding their heads, the pantheon leaders agreed to Thor's suggestion. With everyone on the same page, I retrieved the Spacehog from my inventory and hopped on.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road. I've got a date with some lovely ladies after this!", I laughed, revving the engine.
"Hold on a moment!", Isha shouted, gracefully gliding over with the rest of our group. "You are forgetting something important."
With loving smiles, Isha and the others gave me a good luck kiss. Annoyed by our touching moment, Slaanesh hesitantly approached me with a request.
"Victor… Could I maybe get a good luck kiss too?", Slaanesh inquired, looking up at me with pleading eyes. "There is a good chance our allies will be unable to hold back the enemy. If they manage to force their way through, I will almost certainly be their first target. Nemesis desperately wants my pretty little head, and I am too weak to stop her. Should I be fated to die here, I'd like to go out with a smile on my face."
Visibly terrified, it was plain to see this wasn't one of her usual tricks. She had come to aid me of her own accord, knowing full well it could get her killed. While her motives were far from selfless, Slaanesh had more than earned a reward.
"For once, I am inclined to agree with you.", I agreed, leaning over and kissing her on the lips. "Now please, don't make this awkward."
Slaanesh didn't hear a word I said; her brain had completely shut down. Startled by my kiss, her face went through several shades of red as steam erupted from her ears. Quickly recovering, she leapt onto me and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Oh Victor, you are the best partner a woman could ask for!", Slaanesh gushed, giggling like a schoolgirl. "I swear to you, I will put two hundred percent of myself into making this plan a success. Once this is all over, can I come with you to lunch?"
"Of course, I see no problem with that.", I agreed, momentarily looking to Lileath for help. "Now then, Slaanesh, keep your head in the game and focus on your assigned task. I would greatly appreciate it if none of you died here today."
"Hehe, already smitten with me, are you?", Slaanesh teased as Lileath reached her hand out. "How about we start talking about making our first- "
Before she could finish, Lileath grabbed her by the neck and ripped her off me. Immediately chewing her out, the Aeldari Goddess of Dreams made her disgust obvious. My good luck kiss already had her on edge; Slaanesh's reaction was the final straw.
"Well, I will be on my way then. Stay safe!", I stated, punching the throttle as Isha joined in on verbally lashing Slaanesh.
Quickly coming into range, Jarvis and Spacehog began peppering the target's rocky surface with plasma cannon fire. Unbothered by the assault initially, it was only when a warship exploded that it took notice.
"Took you long enough, you piece of shit!", I cackled, watching millions of black tentacles rapidly extending toward me. "Time to show me what you got, Spacehog."
Dumping the clutch, Spacehog blinked out of range like a bat out of hell. Close behind me, the hulking corpse gave chase, refusing to let me get away. With its attention fixed entirely on me, our forces launched their assault. While they chipped away at its rocky exterior, the defense force dug their heels in and waited.
---3rd Person POV, Khorne Territory---
With her enemies thoroughly exhausted, Nemesis began toying with them. Routinely destroying any meager defense they could muster, her men would leave their foes battered and beaten, but alive. This repetitive cycle had driven Khorne to madness; his blind rage was felt throughout the vicinity. Tzeentch was not far behind; the monotonous predictability of it all had shattered his mind and spirit. Both Chaos Gods were ready for this torture to end.
"I have grown bored of this game, Grendel.", Nemesis yawned, watching her foes frantically trying to close the gaps in their defensive lines. "Take several detachments of Marauders and go- "
Just as she was about to finish giving the dragonic symbiote its marching orders, All-Black began to squirm on her hip. Placing a confused hand on its hilt, images of the ongoing battle flashed through her mind.
'So, the gods have regained access to the rest of reality. This greatly changes my plans…', Nemesis thought, completely disregarding All-Black's suffering. "There has been a change of plans, Grendel. I want you to lead an expeditionary force to deal with some pesky gods. Kill as many as you can before the dimensional tear you'll open closes on you."
<…By your will, Master.> (Grendel)
Swiftly rallying a sizeable force, Grendel departed to deal with the nuisance.
---Victor POV, Ten Minutes Later---
After several failed attempts to break through its outer casing, the Assault Team managed to make a sizeable hole. Striking the tarnished bronze hull together with Jarnbjorn and several dozen other magical relics, they punctured its armor. As they did so, countless agonizing screams rang out, causing them to recoil in pain.
"What in the fucking hell is that awful noise?!", Hercules screamed, clutching his bleeding ears. "Are those our people?"
"Yes, it is.", Thor confirmed, catching a glimpse of the unending torture happening within the armor.
Dismay and horror filled his chest as Lady Sif's soul briefly flew past the breach. In a foolish attempt to save his beloved wife, Thor blindly charged toward the opening. Immediately tackling him, Hermod and several other warriors struggled to restrain him.
"Cease your interference at once!", Thor spat, glaring at them over his shoulder. "Why do you bar me from saving my precious wife?!"
"Brother, you will die before you reach her!", Hermod retorted, struggling to keep ahold of him. "I know how desperately you want to rescue Sif, but we need you here right now. Leave her rescue to Victor's wives and help us keep this monster off them. She and everyone else will be liberated soon enough."
Heeding his older brother's words, Thor begrudgingly gave up on his plans. While he had accepted Hermod's wisdom, the lingering rage he felt remained. In lieu of suppressing it, he turned his rage on the Celestial. With Jarnbjorn in one hand and Mjolnir in the other, Thor brought down a cataclysmic amount of lightning on its massive, tarnished form.
---Meanwhile---
"Hot damn, they finally managed to break through!", Zeus cheered, flying over to where my family was. "Ladies, how much longer until our kinsman will be freed?"
Annoyed by Storm-God's inquiry, Azura and her peers glared daggers at him.
"If you will recall, they asked us to provide them with advanced notice. We failed to provide that, so they have only just begun their ritual.", Odin interjected, riding over on Sleipnir. "Let them work in peace. We should stay alert; the enemy is sure to make an appearance soon."
As if on cue, a massive dark fissure abruptly appeared in the planet's atmosphere. Rapidly expanding, the Warp's corrupted power began bleeding over into the Materium. Hordes of demons poured through, led by an all too familiar, draconian figure. Recognizing him from several prior battles, Odin's fist clenched around Gungnir.
"TO ARMS!!", Odin bellowed as Sleipnir reared up on its hind legs. "Leave the dragon to your leaders. Strike down the enemy soldiers; show them your unyielding warrior spirit!"
Answering his call with resounding battle cries, the defenders surged forward to meet the demons. The two forces crashed together in a furious maelstrom of steel and shadow. Grendel, seeing his primary targets, immediately engaged the gathered pantheon leaders, and a great cosmic duel began.