I wake in a cold sweat, the agony lancing through my body reminds me. I haven't fed in long while, not since my capture about... what? like five years ago? The only reason I'm still bound to a steel table is because these assholes might be able to kill me and... Ah, they're about to start.
"Start the recording. *Aghmm* Comencing 105th and final interview of subject 223, known by it's most recent alias before capture as one Marcus Brood. Estimated age between 1,500 - 2,000 years old and is believed to have had a hand in some the worst disasters known to man within that time frame. The two most notable being the collapse of roman civilization and being the possible origin of the Black Plague that ravaged the world. We also..."
Ok thats enough... "Shut-up, I dont have all damn day to listen to your drivel. I got places to be."
"Oh? Is that how you want to play it? Any other last words of wisdom? No? Then lets get this going.
Nurse! Wheres that gag I ordered?"
“Right here sir!”
A woman dressed in scrubs came into view, her face covered with a sugical mask. She leaned over me and roughly shoved a gag into my mouth, I couldn't even struggle as my head was aleady strapped down. She then quikly stepped away and out of my sight, but remained nearby.
"Alrighty then... ceasing interview and commencing execution via silver solution infusion..."
Wait what?!?
"HGMmHmm!”
Fuuuuuck!
I screamed into the gag as liquid fire exploded into my veins. I told that idiot of a doctor that silver wouldn't due shit but piss me off. I Skardi, son of Skuld, ex-warden of Asgard, disgraced and cursed by Odin the One Eyed King himself swear that I'm going to kill that toad! I've been condemned to walk this magicless hel hole of a world as an undying monster for too long. Forced to drain the life energy of the living and hide from the light of day less I be inflicked with constant agony until one these soft spineless whelps manage to kill me in glorious combat.
I traveled far and wide across this world known as Earth, rarly staying in one place longer than a decade looking for a hero of this world capable of slaying me... and instead I found cowards that tortured, burned, starved, and experimented on me in every possible way...
All this has been too much, I wish to die... I don't care how!
Odin... Anyone... please allow me to finally embrace the end...
I beg of thee...
No more pain...
No more...
No more...
No more...
...............
"Uhh... Doctor?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Umm... The specimen just... flat lined..."
The doctor countinued to watch the specimen from the safety of his control booth before the words of his assistant finally sunk in.
"What!? Truly?! Double check the monitor's leads now!"
"Y-Y-Yes sir!" stammered the nurse as she rushed to the specimen and carried out the command. She reached over the specimen's battered chest to check the leads placed there, when suddenly the decrepit creature lurched upwards with tremendous force and tore the table from its mountings. The nurse shrieked at the sudden explosion of violence and shank back as the table crashed to the ground. The specimen twisted and convulsed with primal fury as it battled its restraints. The Doctor sat in his chair confounded at the sudden change, the previously docile and weakened specimen had changed into a raging beast. The creatures eyes once covered by its wild raven hair now glowed bright red with wild hatred.
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*CLINK*
The sudden metalllic sound startled the Doctor from his staring, seeing the creature that looked like a thin decrepit old man snap a solid steel restraint like nothing had shaken him. He called out to his assisstant, they mustn't allow this creature to escape.
"We must carryout the containment and purge protocols immediately, exit and seal the door!"
The nurse sprinted out from the room as their "specimen" thrashed upon the broken table and as she crossed the threshold another loud CLINK could be heard as another restraint shattered. The nurse slammed her hand on the emergancy panel and a heavy blast door slammed to the ground sealing the room.
*CLINK*
The doctor watched as the creature freed one of it's legs from the table. Sweating profusely he commenced the purge of the chamber and flooded it with super heated plasma. The doctor spoke quietly to himself as the protective shutters of his observation booth locked into place.
"Theoretically this should be like taking a walk on the sun... If it can survive this... we're fucked..."
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Asgard, The Grand Hall of Valhalla
Odin sat upon his golden throne as one his feasts of legend was in full swing. The Golden King was surrounded by warriors of many worlds and just as many ages making merry as he presided over the festivities. He was taking a swig from his golden challace of mead when he felt an itch at the back of his mind. It was of a presence he had not felt in nearly a thousand years. He looked across his hall to see the entry of one of Freyja's valkyrie, a woman in plate armor and winged helm with a long sword at her side by the name of Hilde. He watched as she wove through the crowd of revelers towards his throne, swating aside those with wandering hands with mighty blows.
Odin grunted with amusement as a particularly overzealous warrior was sent flying head over heels through a table as the valkyrie arrived at the base of the throne and gave a respectful bow. He acknowledged her with a nod his own and waved her over to him. The valkyrie then climbed the steps to his throne and greeted him with her besiness.
"Greetings King Odin of Asgard, Skardib Skuldson has at last been slain. I carry on my person his soul stored within a soul gem as was the agreement should he meet his end by the conditions set."
She promptly stated and lightly tossed the said stone to Odin at his throne who cought it with ease.
"You have my thanks Hilde, daughter of Freyja. If you have nothing else for me, you may take your leave."
"I have one last thing to share, the soul had grown... strange. "
"Hmm, that so?"
Odin held the stone to the light as the valkyrie made her exit. Examining it in the light, he stiffened at what he saw. The stone had a red hue with a dark crimson core instead of the normal light blue or white color. He stood up from his throne and walked down from it to the hall's central fire pit. His warriors quieted at his passing as he walked through their ranks until he reached roaring flames and swiftly threw the red stone into it's depths.The flames surged upward and filled the hall with a crimson light, the spectacle drawing the eye of all pressent. Odin then fed his power into the flames to connect with the soul and see what lay within. What he found was disturbing, a scowl distorted his features and regret clawed at his gut. The soul was broken... the man it was is gone. Now only agony and the whispers of madness remained within. The only thing holding the soul together was the curse, which was also what destroyed it in the first place.
Gathering the remnants Odin bagan to piece what he could back together, it won't be enough to bring back Skardib but he could do the next best thing for him. He could return him to the cycle of reincarnation and offer a good nest life for him by placing him back at his home world with good people instead of tossing him to the sea of souls. Odin grunted in annoyance as he worked, he decided he would never again use that curse due to the troubleit caused him. It had become impossible to remove without commiting the taboo of destroying a soul, so instead he just modified it the most he could before sealing it to the damaged memories of the soul. If the curse were to resurface it would be more of a boon instead of a hindrance to it's host.
Despite his efforts and sealing of the curse the soul remained crimson with it's taint, but that was the most he could do within reason for the fallen warrior. It was now time to send this tormented soul away to its next life and hopfully for it to heal in time. He gathered more of his power and called forth a tear in reality to draw the soul from the fire to sent the soul of Skardib Skuldson on it's way.
"Far vel Skardi, son of Skuld!"
Odin called out loudly as he grabbed a drinking horn from a passing servant.
"May we meet again within these very halls!
He then lifted the horn for a toast and surrounding warriors cheered and did the same.
"Tonight we feast!"