Ragnarök, unlike other apocalypses, was not an end but an eternal cycle of death and rebirth for the Asgardians. For the most part, their stories remained the same when the next one began; however, in an age-long past, there was a slight variation. A small group had managed to survive the end of the world but knew the rebirth would still come.

Fleeing in desperation, they managed to step outside the cycle and create a pocket dimension. Perhaps they intended to return and reunite with loved ones, but instead, they quickly discovered that the rebirth of Asgard empowered them. Why not see if, with a bit of manipulation, forcing the cycle's end prematurely, again and again, reap its rewards?

"You know, being dragged to another universe, even if it was because of my stupidity, did I expect to meet another group of beings willing to do imaginable evil to flee from death."

The Asgardians, no, they were no longer counted among them but called themselves 'Those Who Sit Above in Shadow,' stared in shock. They were still in their artificial dimension; however, the group now stood in what appeared to be Niflheim in the halls of the goddess of the dead.

A shadowy figure sitting regally on a skull throne continued to speak calmly, but the room shuddered with each word.

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"I cannot say I read the Gylfaginning before I stepped into this world. However, the tale was known to my people. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that somehow it had been perverted. It had been changed in so many ways to make it almost unrecognizable. And for what? So that a group of selfish beings could live beyond their accorded time."

Leaning back, the being gave the group a lopsided grin that held no humor. "But my appearance changed all that. The Norns felt their chains fall away and came before me, pleading for me to fix the cycle. You felt it, of course, for each new step in this universe, things began to revert to what once was."

The former Asgardians, powerful beings beyond imagination, could only nod in fear.

"I had planned on dealing with you people eventually. Still, I was in no rush as things began to sort themselves out without further doing on my part. However, for some reason, you continued to push things. Worse, you interrupted dinner with my girlfriend and her family."

The group stepped back as an orange stone began to float in his hand,

"The soul stone, really? Did you truly believe that of all infinity stones, I would not notice you manipulating events around it? Congratulations, you have gotten my attention, planned or not."

The shadowy being leaned back and sighed. "Now, what to do with you? Although some of you wear familiar faces, you are not them. Still, I am not without mercy."

With a snap of his fingers, the former Asgardians could feel the change. All exits from their dimension vanished.

"You wanted to live; I won't begrudge you that. However, any thought of interfering with the real world has come to an end. Live out the remainder of your lives in this prison of your own making. Eventually, the power you stole will run out, so make no mistake, we will meet again."