Thor and Sif's peaceful moment was abruptly shattered as the sky above Asgard darkened. The familiar golden hue was replaced by a swirling vortex of dark blue. Snow began to fall from the vortex, a stark contrast to the warm light of Asgard. Then, out of the churning maelstrom a dozen giant black wolves descended. Their massive forms casting long shadows over the city below.
Thor's eyes widened in alarm and in an instant he was on his feet, his goblet clattering to the ground, forgotten. His heart pounded in his chest as he gripped the hilt of Mjolnir, which materialized in his hand with a flash of lightning.
"Sif!" Thor's voice was filled with urgency, his usual composure shattered by the sudden threat.
Sif was already standing beside him, her blue eyes locked onto the descending wolves. The serene elegance she had shown just moments before was replaced by the fierce aura of a warrior goddess.
"How did they get this close without us sensing them?" Sif's voice was laced with shock and confusion as she instinctively reached for the hilt of her sword that suddenly shimmering into existence at her hand. "We should have felt their presence the moment they closed to our realm."
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightened, he said. "This doesn't make any sense, Our perception should be flawless in Asgard. Nothing should be able to approach without us knowing."
The wolves circled above with their glowing red eyes fixated on the city below. The snow that fell from the vortex grew heavier, blanketing the golden city in a layer of cold white.
"Someone is masking their presence," she said, her eyes narrowing. "It's the only explanation. But to hide them so completely, especially here in Asgard… it means that someone within our own dimension is aiding them."
Thor's eyes flickered with realization as Sif's words sank in.
"Someone within Asgard…" he repeated, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and anger.
"It would take a huge amount of power to close our senses like this. Only someone with intimate knowledge of Asgard's defenses and the strength to manipulate them could do this," Sif said.
Thor's heart sank at the implications.
"We need to deal with the wolves first."
Thor nodded, his eyes blazing with the fury of a storm. Tendrils of lightning already dancing around him. "You right. Let's show these creatures that they had made a huge mistakes."
With that, the two gods leaped into action.
---
Back in the infirmary chamber, the warm golden light seemed to flicker as a sudden vibration shook the walls. Erik, Liam, and Mia froze, their eyes widening as the chamber trembled around them. The gentle hum of the healers' magic was drowned out by the low, ominous sound of howling that echoed from above that sent a shiver down their spines.
The three exchanged alarmed glances, each of them recognizing the dreadful sounds that echoing through the walls. The howls were unmistakable. They were the chilling cries of giant wolves, monsters that they had hoped to have left behind.
"Damn it!" Liam cursed under his breath, his fists clenching in frustration. "The wolves… they've followed us here."
Mia's expression mirrored his concern as she turned to Erik. "What do we do? Should we…?"
But before she could finish, Liam shook his head, his voice firm despite the tension in his posture. "No no no. We should let the gods handle this. It's their realm, their battle. They'll take care of it."
Erik nodded in agreement, though his heart felt uneasy.
"Liam is right," he said, trying to steady his voice for the sake of their families. "We've done enough for now. The gods will deal with this threat. We should focus on recovering ourselves."
Despite their words, an unsettling feeling gnawed at the edges of their heart. Deep down, they each felt a strange pull, an almost instinctual urge to act, as if something within them was calling them to the fray. The sensation was foreign and uncomfortable, but it was there nonetheless. Its like a whisper that told them they should be out there, fighting alongside the gods.
But they pushed the feeling aside, convincing themselves that staying put was the right choice. After all, they were in Asgard, a realm protected by the mightiest of gods. Surely, Thor and the others could handle this threat without them.
---
The mighty warriors of the realm sprang into action. From the golden streets below, armored figures clad in gleaming steel and shimmering cloaks emerged from their posts.
With haste, the warriors of Asgard formed ranks.
Erik, Mia, and Liam, doesn't know this, but these wolves were different. They were far stronger, their power magnified manyfold compared to the creatures they had encountered in Midgard.
The warriors of Asgard raised their swords, spears, and shields then they rushed to meet the oncoming threat, their war cries echoing through the sacred halls of Asgard.
A storm brewing within Thor. The wolves that dare to intruded into his realm only fueled the storm that raged within him. With a determined glint in his eyes, Thor grasped Mjolnir and stepped forward. The air around him hummed with electricity.
Without a moment's hesitation Thor leaped from the tower, descending like a bolt of lightning toward the battlefield below.
Thor led the charge. With a mighty roar, he unleashed the full might of his thunderous power. Mjolnir blazed with lightning, crackling and sparking with thunder as he swung it.
The first of the monstrous wolves lunged at him, its massive jaws snapping with the intent to tear him apart. But Thor was quicker despite his large build. He brought Mjolnir down in a sweeping arc and with a deafening crack, the wolf was shattered into a thousand fragments of darkness, its form disintegrating under the weight of Thor's might.
Another wolf leaped from the side but Thor turned, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. He thrust Mjolnir forward, and a bolt of lightning shot forth, striking the beast mid-air. The wolf howled in agony as it was engulfed by the lightning, its body disintegrating into nothingness before it could even reach the ground.
The warriors of Asgard could barely keep up with the sheer ferocity of Thor's onslaught. He was a force of nature, a living storm that tore through the wolves with unstoppable power. Where his hammer fell wolves were reduced to ash. Where his lightning struck, the ground itself was scorched.
The battle is one-sided. With one look anyone could see that the wolves have no chance. But it was never their real purpose.
In the corridor toward the infirmary chamber, a figure walked slowly. A small smile crept up his lips.
---