After spending a day catching up with his mother, Thomas and Alexander filled her in on everything that had happened, except for the fate of their father's soul, which remained in the hands of the being behind the dimensional rifts. With Kallana's stay sorted and his mother departing with Alexander and his bride, Thomas took the elevator to the top floor of Babel Tower.
Stepping into his apartment, Thomas felt a wave of familiarity wash over him. The space had been transformed to accommodate him and Nova, with their bedroom resembling the one in the manor at the Demon Domain. While they currently shared the same room, Thomas envisioned Nova having her own space in the future. After tucking his daughter into bed and activating protective formations throughout the room, Thomas quietly slipped out.
Exiting Babel Tower, Thomas's eyes lit up with anticipation and a smile spread across his face. He headed south to a desolate portion of Pantheon City, an area he had designated for a special project. Once he was certain he was far from any prying eyes, he turned to face the empty street.
"Are you coming out?" he called into the silence.
A soft giggle followed by a resigned sigh heralded the appearance of two figures emerging from a stage pool of blood. One was a young woman with fiery red hair and sharp fangs, and the other a tall, mature man who appeared to be in his late twenties, bearing a striking resemblance to the girl.
"Well, well, well, isn't this the guy our little cousin chose?" the girl remarked with a giggle, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "He's quite the looker, if you ask me."
The man let out a sigh, though there was a hint of approval in his eyes as he regarded Thomas. "Ah, yes," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "Just like the stories our grandfather used to tell, of gods' blood and divine spirit. A true deity, indeed, despite barely fitting the bill."
"Do I know you two?" Thomas asked, studying them with uncertainty, though he had some guesses.
The man, Adin, spoke up. "I'm Adin, and this is my big sister Freya. We are members of the Thunderblood Royal Family, rulers of the other Milky Way currently on a collision course with this one."
Realization dawned on Thomas. "I see. Is this because of Cla..."
"Yes," Freya confirmed, cutting him off. "Clarisse, our younger cousin, is currently with our family undergoing some trials and won't be able to return for some time. She asked us to inform you that she's fine and provide you with important information regarding the state of the universe."
With a flick of her wrists, Freya conjured a swirling mass of blood, forming images in the air. The first image showed two massive masses connected by strings, each string holding entire galaxies. These galaxies seemed to appear constantly, like bubbles popping up in water. But beneath the surface, the strings vibrated, showing two different frequencies representing the Material and Immaterial planes.
Thomas turned his attention to the next image, where another universe loomed. This one appeared even larger and more complex, with countless vibrations pulsating between its layers. It seemed like the two universes were almost touching, on the verge of colliding. The sight left Thomas in awe, contemplating the intricate dance of energies that governed the cosmic order.
Adin gestured towards the smaller universe, capturing Thomas's attention. "This universe," he began, his tone solemn, "is where Freya and I hail from, along with Clarisse's mother, our aunt while the larger one is yours. The two universes are teetering on the edge of collision, and something has held them at bay until now. But whatever force has been keeping them apart is weakening, and they're hurtling towards each other. When they collide, it'll be catastrophic, wiping out all life before a new universe emerges from the wreckage."
Stepping forward, Freya's expression grew serious. "Our world's reality is fragile, with only two planes, the Material and the Immaterial. But we've glimpsed beyond it, seen what lies on the other side. We need to prevent this collision, but there's an outside force that desires the end. Our universe cannot face it alone; we need unity from both sides. And Thomas, we know of your power. You carry the essence of Aphrodite, Cronos, Zeus, Gaia, and many others. Where did it come from? And before you answer, yes, we know about the deities. Some were known to the people in our universe."
Thomas was taken aback by Freya's revelations, his mind racing with questions. Adin noticed his hesitancy and stepped in to ease the tension. "We don't mean to overwhelm you," he reassured Thomas. "But according to our sources, the collision should have occurred long ago. We believe it may have already happened, but someone or something has manipulated time in hopes of changing the outcome. The end of the age of gods is tied to this. The convergence of so many divinities onto you is evidence of higher powers at play."
Sensing Thomas's unease, Freya changed the subject. "Let's put this discussion on hold for now, brother. We can continue once you've rallied the demons under your banner. Speaking of which, did you bring the gift?" she asked, turning to Adin.
Adin snapped out of his reverie and nodded, conjuring a crimson breach in the air. From within, he retrieved a silver hammer adorned with runic inscriptions and a short wooden handle. "This is a replica of Grandpa's signature weapon from back in the day. It should satisfy the old man."
Grateful yet bewildered, Thomas accepted the gift. As soon as he grasped the hammer, Adin and Freya vanished from sight, leaving him alone once more. This time, however, their whereabouts remained elusive.
Thomas shrugged off the strange encounter and continued on his way back home, oblivious to the fact that the deities within the system were all discussing in shock.
In the third layer of the system, the Aesir and Vanir deities gathered in their celestial hall, their voices echoing with urgency.
"I recognize that hammer," Odin, the Allfather, spoke, his voice tinged with emotion. "It is the signature weapon of one of ours, lost long before the calamity looming over us."
The other deities murmured amongst themselves, their expressions grave as they considered the implications of the hammer's appearance. Their gazes then turned to the tall red-head standing by Odin's side. It was a well-known fact among them that Thor had been broken, his spirit and divinity split apart long ago, his soul lost in the chaotic void outside the universe. It was fortunate that his remnant divinity still resided within the system, along with his father and brothers, but could his soul have survived?
"Could this be a sign?" Frigga, queen mother and wife to Odin, wondered aloud, breaking the tense silence that hung in the air.