Grimnar entered his powerhouse, his robe draped from his shoulders to his feet, determination etched on his face. He was set on destroying Aethon's armies at all costs and laying waste to the human world.
Approaching a crystal ball, he began to chant, his hands moving over the surface. "Oh, mighty gods of the mountains and desert, hear my call," he beseeched. "Grant me your strength to bring ruin upon my enemies."
But twice, there was no answer. Grimnar's frustration grew. "Please, gods, heed my plea," he begged on the third try.
Suddenly, the room filled with a blinding light. As Grimnar shielded his eyes, the forms of the gods materialized before him. They towered over him, their forms shifting between earth and sand, their voices rumbling like thunder. "We have heard your call, Grimnar," they boomed. "What do you want from us?".
Grimnar went on his knees and poured out his heart to the gods. "I seek vengeance for my mother's death," he cried. "The humans imprisoned my father in a realm of no return, and they burnt my mother to ashes. I beg you, help me bring justice upon them."
The gods, flames dancing in their hands and bodies, listened intently. The god of the mountain spoke, his voice like rolling thunder. "And what is it that you wish us to do?" he demanded.
Grimnar's eyes blazed with determination. "I want to destroy Aethon and his armies," he declared. "They stand in my way of bringing the human world to ruin."
The gods nodded, their fiery forms flickering in agreement. "But such tasks require sacrifices," the god of the desert cut in. "Are you willing to pay the price?"
Grimnar's jaw clenched, but he nodded firmly. "Whatever you ask of me, I will give," he vowed. "Proceed with your request."
"Bring us the heads of three deities, Zephyr, the swift-winged god of the winds; Vulcan, the blacksmith god of fire and craftsmanship; and Selene, the radiant goddess of the moon".
Grimnar was shocked at their request. "How in the world am I supposed to lay my hands on the heads of gods?....gods?!" he exclaimed, his voice betraying a hint of desperation. "These are very powerful gods! You might as well ask for my head on a silver platter! Why not ask for the heads of mortals instead?"
But the gods remained stubborn, their expressions unreadable. "Our demand remains clear," they declared, their voices cold and adamant. "Bring us what we seek, or suffer the consequences."
Grimnar's pleas echoed off the walls of the chamber, but the gods showed no mercy. With a heavy heart, he continued to plead, but the gods vanished without a word, leaving him alone in the chamber.
Grimnar's rage boiled over at the gods' demand. With a furious roar, he smashed the crystal ball to pieces with his foot. "How am I supposed to get the heads of three powerful gods?" he seethed. Doubt flickered in his mind momentarily, but soon his resolve hardened. "No, never!" he declared to himself. "I am Grimnar, and I will not rest until I have destroyed the human world and avenged my mother's death."
Just then, a demon timidly approached Grimnar's door, head bowed. "Master, is everything alright? I heard your shout," the demon inquired.
Grimnar's eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed the demon by the throat. "When did I ask for your opinion? When did I request your presence?" he snarled.
The demon gasped for breath, trembling in fear. "N-no, master... I'm sorry," he stammered.
"You better be," Grimnar growled, tossing the demon aside, as the demon's back collided with a nearby rock with a sickening crunch.
Grimnar moved around restlessly in his powerhouse, his mind ablaze with plans for his next move. "How can I take down these gods and claim their heads?" he muttered to himself. "It's my only chance for revenge and ultimate power, I would be the greatest god that ever lived, now is my chance."
With determination fueling his steps, he stormed out of his powerhouse to find Royce, his trusted advisor. "Royce!" he called out urgently. "I need your advice. I must know how to defeat these gods and seize their heads."
Royce walked over to Grimnar's throne majestically. "You called for me, my lord?" he asked, bowing respectfully.
"Have a seat, Royce. We've got things to discuss," Grimnar said, motioning to the throne next to him.
Royce sat down, ready to listen to Grimnar's concerns. "What's troubling you, my lord?" he asked kindly.
Grimnar spoke with determination in his voice. "I need the heads of Zephyr, Vulcan, and Selene," he stated firmly.
Royce's eyes widened in surprise. "That's a big request, my lord. Those gods are really powerful," he remarked.
Grimnar's frustration boiled over. "I don't care," he snapped, standing up. "Once I have their heads, I'll crush Aethon's army and rule the world. I'll be the greatest god ever."
Before Grimnar could say more, Royce interrupted. "My lord, I need to show you something. I'll be right back," he said quickly, then hurried off to fetch whatever it was he wanted to show Grimnar.
Royce opened the small book and began to recount the tales of the gods. "My lord, let me tell you about Zephyr, the swift-winged god of the winds," he began. "Legend has it that Zephyr once unleashed a mighty storm that swept across the land, toppling mountains and tearing through forests. With a single breath, he could summon hurricanes and tempests, leaving chaos in his wake."
Grimnar listened intently, his eyes alight with curiosity. "And what of Vulcan, the blacksmith god of fire and craftsmanship?" he inquired.
Royce nodded, continuing the tale. "Vulcan's mastery of fire is crazy," he explained. "He forged weapons and armor of such exquisite craftsmanship that even the mightiest warriors sought his creations. In battle, his flames consumed entire armies, leaving nothing but ashes".
Grimnar's interest grew as Royce spoke of Vulcan's achievements. "And what about Selene, the radiant goddess of the moon?" he asked eagerly.
Royce smiled, knowing Grimnar's fascination with tales of power. "Selene's light illuminates the darkest of nights," he recounted. "Her moonlit glow guided sailors across treacherous seas and inspired poets to wax lyrical about her beauty. In battle, her divine light blinded her enemies, leaving them vulnerable to her wrath."
Grimnar listened intently, his mind racing with thoughts of conquest and victory. As Royce finished his tale, Grimnar's eyes gleamed with determination. "Thank you, Royce," he said with a nod. "But unfortunately, I don't care, what I want, is what I want."