Azrael and Hanzo began to descend from the sky as they entered the domain. When they touched down, Azrael sensed something unsettling: his omniscience did not function in this plane, for it was even superior to that of the Realms, and moreover… Sans bore the Drakon Sword.
Azrael: Th-that guy… does he have the Drakon Sword?
Hanzo: I see… something strange is happening here. Let's help him and then we'll sort this out with him.
Before Azrael could move forward, Baldur emerged from the chaos and, at great speed, struck Azrael with a brutal blow.
Hanzo: Azrael, watch out!
Hanzo then noticed something behind him: a figure with a sinister gaze—Heimdall.
Heimdall: So you think that spear will save you in the middle of this chaos.
Hanzo: You… you have omniscience…
Heimdall: Oh, come on. Do you think I need omniscience? Pathetic. I can read your mind and anticipate your moves… now, attack, shiny guy.
Azrael rose quickly after Baldur's hit, dark energy crackling in his fists as he advanced straight at him. Each charge was precise, gauging Baldur's strength and seeking to break his defense without rushing.
Hanzo, right behind, pointed the Aethernos at Heimdall:
Form 1 – Colossal Cyclone: The spear generated a huge whirlwind of divine light that rotated slowly, displacing the atmosphere and forcing Heimdall to readjust every movement. The speed was visible and controllable, allowing Hanzo to keep his distance while assessing his attacks.
Baldur, furious, launched an explosive strike at Azrael. He dodged with a measured motion, using his shadow to cushion part of the impact, and countered with a combo of dark punches that landed in Baldur's chest, leaving a groove of corrupt energy.
Heimdall responded, evading the Colossal Cyclone, and advanced toward Hanzo, his piercing gaze searching for any flaw.
Hanzo did not hesitate and activated:
Form 4 – Quintuple Assault: The Aethernos multiplied into five spears, each aimed strategically at a different target. Three of them blocked Heimdall's attacks while the other two moved toward potential openings, forcing the guardian to split his attention.
Perceiving the distraction, Azrael increased the pressure on Baldur, throwing punches that sparked with dark energy and sliced the air like dense blades. Baldur retreated, but his divine power remained steadfast, absorbing and deflecting some of the blows.
Hanzo adjusted his position and transformed the spear:
Form 6 – Solar Wrath: The spear emitted an intense light, dazzling Heimdall and burning the air with concentrated heat. It was not instant, but it forced Heimdall to cover up and momentarily reduce his offensive output.
Azrael took the opportunity to leap onto Baldur, delivering a dark uppercut that lifted the god for a few seconds, although Baldur's regeneration began to balance out the damage.
Baldur attempted a straight-line counterattack, but Azrael dodged with measured agility, using gravity and terrain to his advantage, while Hanzo maintained pressure with the spear, controlling distance and attack angles.
The duo advanced in coordination: Azrael dominating close combat, Hanzo controlling the field and blocking attacks with Aethernos' forms, keeping the fight balanced despite Baldur and Heimdall's overwhelming strength.
Azrael came to a sudden halt, and Baldur stared at him, confused and on alert.
Azrael: I'm tired of holding back…
A wave of dark energy expanded across a large part of the realm, forcing Baldur back several steps. The corruption of Azrael's power stained the air with living, palpable, threatening shadows.
Baldur: Wha… what kind of power is this?
Azrael activated his original speed, without limits, and appeared in front of Baldur. A single blow sent him flying, and before he could react, Azrael reappeared and struck him a second time, smashing him into the ground and creating a gigantic crack that ran along the earth beneath them.
Azrael: How do you feel now?
Baldur let out a brutal laugh, without fear or pain:
Baldur: HAHAHAHA! No… I didn't feel any of your hits.
With a quick, precise movement, Azrael grabbed him by the neck and snapped it with force.
Azrael: End of fight.
Hanzo, watching, tightened his grip on the spear with determination:
Hanzo: Alright, Heimdall… I'm tired of restraining my power and the true reach of my spear.
Heimdall, with a fierce smile and penetrating stare, replied:
Heimdall: I knew you were holding back… HAHAHA! Come on! Attack! I will be the one to stop you this time.
Hanzo: You're confident because you think you know which moves I'll make? What good will that do if I'm so fast you can't react?
Heimdall: Wha—
Before he could finish, the Aethernos moved at such speed that Heimdall didn't even perceive it; he only saw his hand fall, severed and detached from his arm.
Heimdall: H-how…? What kind of power is this?
Hanzo: Now you will die. Farewell…
Before the word finished, Freya burst onto the scene shouting:
Freya: Don't kill him! I have come from our plane! I beg you, let us talk!
Azrael, still holding Baldur by the throat, answered in a cold voice:
Azrael: Too late… I already killed one.
But Baldur suddenly opened his eyes and, with a high-speed motion, escaped Azrael's grip.
Baldur: You… are not just any god.
Azrael (surprised): How are you still alive?
Freya: He won't die… unless he is erased from existence or…
Hearing that "or…", Azrael sensed a weakness. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he knew a crack existed, a condition that could be exploited.
Azrael: Fine, I'll listen—though you're lucky; I don't usually stop to talk mid-combat.
Freya: Odin is to blame for all this. We must stop him at all costs; if it were up to me, I'd prefer he die.
Hanzo looked at Sans and the sword, thoughtful.
Hanzo: I remember the sage being millions of times more powerful with that sword… even I could beat him. Also, now that I see it well, he doesn't look like a god: he looks mortal.
Ignoring Hanzo's comment, Freya continued urgently:
Freya: You are here to defend the goddess Amaterasu. She is surely fighting Odin, so—
Before she could finish, an attack so devastating erupted from Amaterasu's palace that the shockwave launched Azrael through the air. Hanzo sent the spear flying and clung to it; Freya stayed standing thanks to her own magic, but Baldur and Heimdall were flung away.
Hanzo: What power…!
High above, Amaterasu ascended into the sky with a voice that thundered across the plane.
Amaterasu: Pathetic old man, do you dare set foot on sacred ground with your pathetic gods? You will suffer the wrath of the Sun.
From the heavens a fierce rain of fire began to fall, making everything vibrate—a downpour of flames that reverberated again and again, even creating dimensions that vanished seconds later.
Odin: HAHAHA! THIS IS THE POWER OF THE SUN!
Amaterasu concentrated her energy and generated a colossal shockwave that dragged Odin from the castle, hurling him a great distance until he crashed against a mountain.
Sans clung to the Drakon to keep his balance amid the earthquakes shaking the plane. The roar was so intense the mountains trembled like leaves. Thor, who had been thrown to another peak, watched the goddess with visceral fear.
Thor: (gasping) We should retreat… or we will die here!
Sans, still not fully mastering the speed granted by the sword, instinctively threw it toward Thor. The Drakon burst from his hand with such brutal speed that even Hanzo had no time to notice; the blade pierced the god's chest instantly. The mountain exploded in a shower of rocks and fire; the sword even tore the fabric of the plane itself, leaving a scar that shone for a few moments before closing.
Hanzo: (laughing, astonished) That… that was the power of the sword!
Azrael, rising with difficulty, looked at the scene with disbelief and rage.
Azrael: And what are you laughing at? Isn't that logical?
Hanzo: Shut up, you oaf!
Azrael: Oaf, me!?
Zareth Kai, watching everything from her domain, let out a suppressed chuckle.
Zareth Kai: Only Alanai is missing—she would really get into the fight—and Alcanor…
Amaterasu, furious, shouted from the sky:
Amaterasu: Zareth! Why don't you take care of this yourself?
Zareth Kai descended calmly, her landing echoing throughout the plane like a heartbeat that marked the power gap.
Zareth Kai: Why would I do that? I sent you three gods.
Odin, who had been watching from a distance, could not believe what he saw: there stood Zareth Kai, one of the most powerful gods across all multiverses and domains.
Odin: (snorting) Damn…! Retreat, Asgardians!
The Asgardian gods, seeing Zareth Kai's overwhelming presence, opened portals and began to flee in haste.
Thor, badly wounded and lying on the mountain, could barely move; his gaze fixed on Zareth Kai, a mix of surprise and pain. Yet Zareth Kai raised her hand and, out of mere mercy, healed him in a cold but effective gesture.
Zareth Kai: Poor Thor… you make me feel pity. You were lucky not to face Azrael. Now leave here with Odin or I will exterminate you on the spot.
The Asgardians waited no longer: they all vanished through the portals, fleeing.
Freya, rage written on her face, stepped forward.
Freya: I'm leaving this place… and you, hooded one, I will not forgive what you did to Baldur.
Azrael smiled maliciously, pleased.
Azrael: We'll see, goddess.
Freya conjured a portal and took Baldur and Heimdall with her, swearing this would not end here.