Everyone started running except Alex, Finn, and Astrid. They waited until everyone had already left the gate. Finn was carefully studying his map and figuring out what direction they should head once they were across the Bifrost.
He had pulled out a compass that floated alongside him as he walked. Alex finished strapping throwing knives to his arms and legs. Astrid got out her shield and put on her helmet.
"What are you guys waiting for?" Thor said. "Everyone is getting ahead of you!"
"We don't want people to follow us!" Alex said. "That way we have a better chance of winning! Besides, the timer doesn't start until you cross the gate."
"I guess that's true," Thor said. "Take your time then, I guess."
Alex, Finn, and Astrid lined up just behind the gate. Then they started jogging out of the gate and across the Bifrost. They would jog as long as they could.
They wanted to check their stamina first to see if this was going to be a running race or a walking race. They were all in pretty good shape, but they had no idea how far apart the checkpoints were actually going to be or how long the race actually was. All they knew was that they had a maximum of five days to complete it.
When they made it to the other side of the Bifrost, they were standing at the base of a colossal mountain. Bigger than any of them had ever seen before in real life.
"Where are we?" Alex said.
"According to the barometric pressure, the angle and size of the sun, and the big ass mountain, we should be in Midgard," Finn said.
"What is Midgard?" Astrid said.
"Your god is Norse. Shouldn't you know?" Alex said.
"Just because I'm Norse, doesn't mean I'm smart," Astrid said.
"Honestly, that's fair," Alex said. "Carry on."
"Midgard is Earth." Finn said. "And because I know basic earth images and facts, I know that that is Mount Everest."
"Oh, shit. Our first task is to climb Mount Everest?" Alex said. "Doesn't that usually take two months?"
"Yes, but we aren't normal humans, are we?" Finn said. "You said you can fly, right?"
"Yes. Is that why you made me pack rope and carrying straps?" Alex said.
"Yep. You're going to fly us to the top of Mount Everest," Finn said.
"Oh gods," Alex said.
"Come on, it'll be fun!" Astrid said. "I'll play with your apparatus too, if you do it."
"You don't have to do that. I'll do it," Alex said. Alex pulled the rope and strap contraptions out of his dimensional pocket.
Finn assembled everything once it was out. They ended up with a rope with a harness attached to each end and a cushion wrapped around the middle of the length of rope.
Alex would throw the rope across his shoulders and neck, with the cushion part for comfort, and Finn and Astrid would strap into the harnesses.
Then Alex would fly them securely up to the top of Mount Everest, where they would plant their flags. Alex, Finn, and Astrid put on winter clothes and set off into the sky.
Alex activated his aura of heat skill to keep them all warm during the flight. While winter clothes would help some, the air was frigid and the wind was blowing, so they definitely needed the extra warmth.
Finn and Astrid weren't hanging too far below Alex. That way they could tell him if he needed to change course or if something was wrong.
After a couple hours, they made their way to the top of the mountain. Sure enough, a silver flag was planted at the top. They dared not touch it just in case it zapped them or something.
Alex looked at it and committed the image to his memory. Then he activated his dowsing skill to find the next flags.
"There aren't any other silver flags on Earth, but there are green, yellow, orange, and red flags left."
"I think we should hit the red flags first and then maybe the orange flags and then leave the others alone. Earth is big and it'll take a while to get to the locations, regardless of how easy it is to find and access the flags," Finn said.
"I want to hit something or play with something. I'm bored!" Astrid said.
"Finn, let her play with your apparatus," Alex said. "She's bored, and you kind of volunteered yourself for this last night."
"Fine. She can play with my apparatus, but only while we're traveling. Not in public," Finn said.
"Yay!" Astrid immediately put her hands down Finn's pants.
"Whoa! Hey! Ok, easy," Finn said.
"You're no fun. Telling me what to do," Astrid said. "I'm helping you out, Buster. Not the other way around."
A light went on in Astrid's eyes. "I called him Buster! You know, because-"
"You don't have to explain it. I get it," Alex said, laughing. "Get out your map, Finn."
"Ok," Finn said, getting it out.
"The flags from green to red are here, here, here, and here."
"The Mariana Trench! That's insane!" Finn said. "Ok, maybe we skip these extra flags for Earth because they're so far away and hard to reach. Let's get back to the Bifrost so we can get the next world."
"Alright, get in your harnesses," Alex said.
Finn and Astrid got into their harnesses and Alex descended the mountain. He made sure to have the aura of warmth on the entire time, including the time they were at the top. They didn't want to freeze.
After about an hour and a half, they made it back to the Bifrost. A lot of humans were staring at it in wonder, but Alex, Finn, and Astrid just walked onto it and to the other side.
Finn had to bat Astrid's hands away before anyone saw anything. Once they had made it back to Asgard, Heimdall changed the desination of the Bifrost.
"You guys are back already?" Thor said. "You're the first ones."
"Nice," Astrid said, and she high-fived Thor.
"Keep it up, and we might just get a huge influx of soldiers for the cause," Thor said.
After Heimdall was done re-aiming the Bifrost, Alex, Finn, and Astrid made their way across. When they got to the other side, Finn checked his maps and his compass thing, and said, "We're in Alfheim now. The world of the light elves."
"Ok, cool. Danger time." Astrid said, smashing her fists together.