I had a nightmare that night, another sin burdening my soul. A twisted blessing, since my agonizing over it signified guild and remorse, a sign I was still human somewhere deep inside. I would find my hand shaking occasionally unable to focus my thoughts on anything other than what I've done and what I've become. Who and where did this power come from? What was it turning me into? Was it the reason why I've never felt like I belonged, why I've always felt like a monster? How long has this been a part of my life? I did my best not to think about it too much. Things started to feel normal again but just when they did I found myself feeling the pull once more. I was going to be dragged against my will to some unknown place to face yet another threat to my life. Once on the other side I knew exactly where I was. The glow from a vast river of lava, fires and smoke everywhere, an unbearable heat. This was Musplhiem. I quickly grabbed my heat suit from my backpack and put it on over my clothes but under my bag and sword. It was a silver full body hazmat suit looking thing with some fans inside. It wasn't perfect but it kept most of the heat out. I let out a sigh as I looked around. There were buildings made of red stone and even what looked like trees. The streets in this section looked empty, so I walked in the direction of what would be downtown in the hopes of finding some natives to talk to. Even if hostile it would at least pass the time.

It was kind of strange, despite the struggles and the trauma I had endured since I started traveling the realms as I thought about it while walking I couldn't help but feel like for the most part I actually enjoyed my journey. Sure people have tried to kill me and I've done some horrible things but I've made new friends and seeing a new realm is always a little exciting. Even when that realm was some sort of inhospitable hellscape. Eventually I reached an area with bigger buildings and saw a group of what I figured were fire giants. Their bodies had proportions similar to the frost giant I met in Jotunheim. But instead of icy blue skin they had brimstone red skin or other red shades. Like the frost giant they had black scalira but the irises were red instead of blue. All of them are somewhere around ten feet tall with body types ranging as widely as humans.

One of them however looked different then the rest, standing out like a sore thumb. She was female, with a professional bodybuilder frame, though the fact she looked like the chick who'd lug around a navel cannon or tail gun in a hero shooter wasn't what made her stand out.

Her skin was much darker, the shade of black jack cherry, she had scars all over her body that glowed like lava, and most notably she was the only Jotun with horns. Unlike the other fire giants her eyes were not red, but purple. She could have been mistaken for an oni, as she was dressed in minimalistic cloths like one would expect from a fictional barbarian or Amazonian. She had a massive sword, as big if not bigger than she was, that she moved around with the use of a single hand. I tried to look as non threatening as I could before waiving and saying "hello".

They all looked at me, the female saying something my auto translator didn't pick up. Because my outfit muffled the sound on both ends, it wasn't working properly. She made her intentions clear when she lifted her weapon and charged straight at me. I couldn't blame her, since I looked so alien. I did my best to dodge her strikes, trying to tell her I didn't want to fight her but my translator was still not working right. I even tried to say it in elvish hoping she'd understand that but had no luck.

I did my best to dodge, dip, dive, duck, and dodge her attacks but my suit took a number of grazing cuts. Eventually it was rendered useless so I simply took the helmet off and shouted "stop trying to kill me, I'm not here to hurt you!"

"Nice try strangely dressed Asier scum, but I'm not going to let you trick me into letting down my guard."

I let out a heavy grunting sigh growl. "First off, I'm a Midgardian." I dodged a downward slash then hit the inside of her elbow and wrist to get her to drop her weapon. "Secondly, if I wanted to hurt you, I'd have already drawn the sword from my back." I then tried to grip the handle of her massive sword only to recoil from it burning my hand on contact.

The fire Jotun laughed. "Foolish human, even if you were strong enough to lift that sword you couldn't hold it. Only someone who-"

While she was talking I had started drawing on a bit of my new inner power like I did in my fight against Vidar. I gripped her sword once more and lifted it off the ground. If it was burning my hand again, I couldn't feel it. She cut off mid sentence and looked at me in shock. "Allow me to reiterate. I, am, not, here, to, hurt, anyone." I stabbed the sword into the ground off to her side and moved my hand to help her up. "Light-bringer may be from Asgard but I have no relationship with its former user and no loyalty to that realm. I'm not your enemy."

She grabbed my hand and got up. "My apologies, it's just that.... that sword belonged to the man who killed my grandfather. I'll trust you however. Lifting my grandfather's sword and not being burned means you've either completed the Musplhiem Crucible or something equally punishing. I doubt many Asier have been through such a struggle besides maybe the king whom you are clearly not."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Hunter [Steel-Bone] Erickson of Midgard."

"Well met Hunter, I am Cinder Ashdotter, warrior queen of Musplhiem."

"Your.... grandfather was Surtr wasn't he."

She nodded proudly.

I hesitated to speak for a bit before stating "Well to be fair he gave up this sword before his fight with your grandfather and they did end up killing each other. I doubt you'd actually be satisfied in killing me even if I did have a solid connection to his killer."

"I guess that's true. I must say you're not bad at fighting. Were you holding back?"

"Well if I'm not channeling the power I've gained since traveling the realms I'm probably slightly above rather average in most ways outside my durability. Though I have had some training."

"We should have a proper spar while you are here, I'd like to see you give it your all."

I rubbed the back of my neck. "I don't know..... I'm not exactly comfortable with using these abilities yet and I need rest before I can do that anyway. Traveling realms takes a lot out of me."

She nodded. "I imagine. How exactly do you travel without a Bifrost?"

"Well the first time I go somewhere I'm pulled by an outside force like a magnet. Since I've been traveling I'm guessing I've absorbed some Bifrost energy from the between where Yiggdrsill is allowing me to revisit places I've been."

"So you aren't in full control? That's... worrying."

"In more than one way. You got a place for me to rest?"

"Sure, you can crash at my place. It's this way." She started walking.

"Sorry if this is a sensitive topic but I noticed you don't look like the other fire Jotuns. How come you're the only one with horns around here?"

"Among our kind, horns are a feature that manifests in the first few children of the king of one of the four tribes. As for my skin and eyes that's probably got something to do with my grandmother. The wife of Surtr."

I had to rack my brain a bit. "I don't remember anything about her outside her being a frost Jotun."

Cinder nodded. "I'm a quarter frost Jotun. Mixing of tribes is extremely rare. It's kind of silly considering all four tribes hold the belief that we are all descendants of the first giant Yamir."

"Are Jotun the only intelligent race among the realms that have horns?"

"As far as I know, yeah. But I've never seen another realm outside this one. I've read descriptions but details on the seven root worlds are scarce besides Helhiem."

"Right, I'm guessing realm travel was stopped before anyone had a chance to properly explore those realms."

"When the Bifrost on Midgard and Asgard were destroyed it caused some sort of ripple effect that disabled all Bifrost devices."

"Like a magical EMP. That explains why the so-called "gods" of other kingdoms outside the city state of Asgard also stopped showing up in person."

Cinder led me to a large building in the spot where city hall would stand in my town. "This is me, plenty of space."

"You've got a spare bedroom right."

She opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

"Y-you've got a spare bedroom, right?"

she chuckled "I don't fully trust you so if you don't mind having a guard posted outside your room you are free to use the spare bedroom. Sorry for teasing you a bit, but I'm not exactly the type to sleep with someone I've just met. Though I will admit, you do have some qualities I find... interesting. Even if you look like a scraggly ass tree. Seriously, you're way too damn skinny."

"Yeah, if I didn't have such hardy bones you'd probably snap me like a twig. Just out of curiosity, what features about me are you talking about specifically? It'll be good to know for future reference."

"Well based on the fact you were able to lift my grandfather's sword and the determined look you had I couldn't help but feel like you are a kindred spirit. Someone who's been through the meat grinder of life and somehow still has a fighting spirit, strong willpower, and determination. Although you don't seem to like fighting I'm guessing you learned how out of necessity. All that and you are way stronger than you look. Are you sure you're all human?"

"I was born all human, or at least I think I was. However since traveling I'm not sure I'm fully human anymore. I.... I've done things.... not that long ago I..... I slaughtered an army of mushroom elves in Svartlhiem. I physically became some sort of demonic looking monster and literally ripped them to shreds." My hands started to shake. "Whoever, whatever I inherited these powers from definitely wasn't human. I'm not sure how or why of all people I ended up with them. All I know is I haven't exactly used these powers for good every time I've called on them."

"I'm going to be really straight with you Hunter. I don't think it matters who, where, how, or why you inherited these powers. Whoever they used to belong to doesn't matter, they're yours now. Accept that, make this power your own, and I think you'll find yourself much more comfortable with them."

My hands stopped shaking. "You're right, it's my power now, to use as I see fit"

After a nice chat I went to the guest room and collapsed onto the bed. It wasn't anything special but it was good enough. I drifted off to sleep. That night my nightmares were worse than normal since now the elven slaughter was added to my dream as well as me seeing myself in a monstrous form as the voices in the dark did their best to torment me. I awoke shouting and practically jumped out of the bed and slammed the floor with a thud.

Face first on the floor is how Cinder found me as she sprinted in wearing nothing but her birthday suit. "What's wrong, are you under attack? Did a [salamander] work its way into the house." She spoke quickly as she entered the door, then laughed when she saw my half naked ass face first on the floor hanging halfway off the bed.

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"No, just.... a bad dream. I'm fine." I peeled myself off the floor and brushed myself off only to freeze when I realized she was nude and looked away. "T-talk about walking around in the buff." I chuckled nervously.

She looked down at herself. "Heh, right, sorry. I can't sleep with clothes on. I'll get dressed." She then made a quick exit. I also got dressed and we met up in the living room.

"You know, I never got to ask about that shiny silver suit you had on." Cinder did her best to be casual.

"Eh? Oh, well I'm not resistant to heat so the suit was to keep me from bursting into flames when I got here."

"You were hardly sweating after it came off."

"Yeah, it doesn't feel as warm as I was expecting. Maybe my abilities come with heat resistance."

She shrugged. "I'll let you eat before we start sparring. Did you want to cook or should I?"

"I'll cook. Let's see what you have." I browse through her food stocks. "Five different proteins." I give them a feel and a smell. "Dreki meat, or something close to it. This one is from something close to a goat or deer. Some kind of bird meat for the third one. Fish? Where in Musplhiem did you get fish? And this last one is...."

"[Salamander]. Also we do have water it's just more scarce than what I imagine Midgard has."

I nod as I look at the veggies and fruits. "Some sort of yam."

"Aah yams."

"This looks like a pepper of some kind."

"Yeah, I love spicy food."

"This looks like a tomato and then we've got.... dragon fruit?" I lift what looks like a dragon fruit.

"You have those on Midgard? They're quite rare here. Only grow at an oasis."

"They're not that rare on Midgard but I wouldn't call them common where I live. I don't see any herbs or spices so I guess it's meat and potatoes. I can work with this." I prepared a meal to the best of my ability with the options I had.

Cinder was hesitant but eventually took a bite. "....You did quite well with what I had on hand. I wonder what you could have done if I had grain on hand."

"I'm guessing food in general is scarce."

"Well unless you're willing to eat scorpion meat and ash yams daily, yeah. Those things are everywhere."

"Scorpion meat isn't that bad, wouldn't be the first time I lived off of scorpion and yams. Options are limited in the desert."

"I wasn't aware Midgard had any. Then again the Aseir only really explored one section. Other kingdoms from that realm likely had their own section of Midgard they insisted on messing with. That lot loved being worshiped."

"So for the spar, weapons or fists?"

"It might be a bad idea for our weapons to clash. They have history and all. But it would make things interesting as long as you held the sword and didn't use it to two on one me. But I'd like to avoid new scars from a friendly spar. Just fists will be fine, but don't expect me to hold back."

"Holding back would kinda defeat the purpose of it."

She chuckled "Exactly, I want to see what you yourself are capable of. Without equipment."

"Well I need to keep the glasses on since they translate conversations for me. Unless you understand elven."

"I know a little dwarven, but not elven. Dwarven uses the same alphabet as Jotun so it's a bit easier to grasp."

"Good to know. Unfortunately outside my native language I've only learned elven and that was out of stubborn persistence."

She chuckled and we finished eating. "Despite its briefness I've enjoyed this time hanging out with you."

"Same, and not having to fight for my life is a nice change of pace."

She then got up and gestured for me to follow. She led me to an arena for us to spar in. We both walked to different ends and took combat stances.

It started out about how I expected. I focused my efforts on dodging until I saw an opening and took it. The impact is not even felt by Cinder. "Really? Is that it? Where's the strength you used to lift my sword earlier?"

"Right, heh. I gotta channel some energy first." I started drawing on this new-ish inner strength I have and my body was covered in a blue-purple light once again. I dodged and weaved through her attacks and eventually took a hit. It hurt but wasn't that bad. I even started returning the favor.

"That's better, give it all you got. I won't be satisfied until I see this inner monster you spoke of. Go ahead and give it to me, I want all of it."

I couldn't help but turn a little red at the wording of her last sentence but was still reluctant to try and bring out that transformation for more than one reason.

The fight was just starting to get heated when I felt the ground shaking. I ignored it at first but eventually I put my hands up. "Time out, I don't think all that rumbling is our fight."

"But it was just getting good." The ground rumbled while we stood still. "What could be causing that, an earthquake?" Then we heard a loud roar from the distance.

"What was that?"

"Sounds like a behemoth, we should probably check it out."

It didn't take long to spot the monster. From the edge of the toe we could already see it lumbering its way over to it. It was a massive turtle-like creature with a spiky shell. It's beak like that of a snapping turtle. Its tail had a spiked mace like look to it. Even the parts of its body not in the shell were covered in thick scails. It was like a giant Ankylosaurus on steroids. Although not Kaiju sized it looked like something Godzilla would fight. It was about fifty to sixty feet from toe to tallest spike tip and 180 feet from beak to tail tip.

"How the hell does something that large even sustain itself in an area with so little vegetation?"

"I'm not sure, they're rare and it's not like we've taken the time to actively observe them. They may be slow but they wreck anything in their path."

"And it's heading right this way. We're going to have to fight that thing to protect the town, aren't we?"

"Yeah, and since we are free to kill it you don't have to hold back." She then points to someone in the background l. "Get everyone someplace safe just in case. Hunter and I will take care of the behemoth."

The Jotun began to protest. "But your majesty, he's just a human. There's no way he'll be of any help even with that sword of his."

"He'll be fine, trust me, this human can handle himself. There's more to him than meets the eyes."

The other Jotun looked like he wanted to protest, but decided against it. "Of course, my queen. As you wish." He then got to work moving people out of the path of the behemoth.

We ran head fast into the path of the behemoth and she didn't hesitate to attack the monster. Light-bringer also rushed in to slash at its limbs. When I went for it I had no luck. Regardless of where I struck with the hatchet or axe I couldn't seem to actually cut it. These were not weapons, but tools, not intended to be used like this. Then again I doubt anything that wasn't enchanted could harm this thing.

Cinder slammed her massive sword on the behemoth's head staggering the beast. "Why are you wasting time with those tree choppers, just punch it full force."

I started drawing on energy and punching but I still wasn't doing any noticeable damage. At some point the thing did a spin and smacked me with its tail. I used my arms to block but got tossed through a building. My arms were broken, my ribs likely were too. I had massive gashes in my arms and a big ass hole in one of them. I staggered to my feet, arms basically useless.

Cinder wasn't doing well on her own, though able to hurt the monster her progress was slow. She managed to block and perry tail hits before eventually the monster stomped and a piller of rocks came up from under Cinder and launched her into the air. From the looks of it she was going to land right into its jaw.

Panic flooded my body, even if she managed to spin her way into an attack it was likely she would get chomped on by the beak of the behemoth. The last thing I wanted was for someone who had been friendly with me to die, and saving her was the right thing. However I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't fast enough. At least, not with the limits of my human body. I had no other options, I had to transform.

I tapped into more power, the gentle aura turned into a roaring flame of purple-blue energy as my body started to heat up. As the pain built I was brought to my knees. The popping and snapping of bones was defining and it took all I had not to pass out. I was queazy and dizzy as I stood back up wobbly from the ordeal. I looked down at my now clawed hands, the skin on my hands and arms a near blood shade of red as if stained. My arms had healed in the transformation. I looked down at the floor, now farther away from my eyes, my partly exposed belly was an icy shade of blue.

I took a running stance and sprinted at the behemoth, much faster than any human could hope to run. With a big jump I landed a heavy punch on its head causing its head to move to the side.

Cinder did in fact manage to flail her way into slashing it, her strike hitting its neck thanks to my movement. Though not enough to kill the beast, the behemoth definitely felt it. "Thanks for the assistance stranger."

"Stranger?" My deepened voice still sounded strange to me. "Am I really that unrecognizable in this form?"

Cinder smacks the behemoth on the face with her sword. "Hunter, that's you? When you said you could take on a monstrous transformation I imagined something grotesque. Have you not been able to look in a mirror?"

I nearly got hit by a foot stomp and managed to punch the beast in the eye, taking its vision on that side out. "No, in fact because it was dark and I was covered in filth last time I didn't even know what color my skin became. Are you saying I'm not some ugly demon?"

She made another slash aimed at the neck of the behemoth. "I have no idea what a "demon" is, but you look kinda like a Jotun. Maybe mixed blood, but it's hard to tell since I've never really met another in person."

As the behemoth shouted I dodged a head strike and moved to take out the other eye. "A Jotun?" That's when it hit me, though to be honest I think I've known for a while but was unable to accept it. I knew who this body and these abilities came from.

The two of us team grabbed the behemoth's head and started twisting, the beast nearly decapitated had its neck torn and flopped to the ground, dead.

Cinder and I both huffed, worn out from the effort. She leaned on her sword and continued the conversation. "Yeah, and a damn sexy one at that." She made a growling sound.

I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as I grabbed a scale to take home, for a few reasons. "You... don't see the resemblance to anyone?"

She tilted her head, blinking with a blank expression. "You know, now that I think about it you do kinda look like the paintings of Ymir, just without the beer gut covering the muscles and not as tall." Her eyes widened. "Wait... you don't mean...?"

"Yeah, I'm confident my world hopping is because of him in a way. Somehow I merged with the fragment of him on Midgard and the others in the various realms are now acting like a magnet. Pulling me to a new realm every so often. My body is adapting to both his powers and the Bifrost energy I sponge up when I take a jump."

She stood silently as the information sank in. "So when you take that form it's like fusing your body with Ymir's. Considering how naturally you move despite this being your second time you might, although subconsciously, have access to his mind as well."

"Maybe, I just hope I don't have to mentally wrestle with his consciousness for control of my body. I have enough inner demons."

"I'm just going to assume a "demon" is some sort of evil entity and you're speaking metaphorically. Want to pick up where we left off or head back?"

"I think we're both too worn-out to fight, let's let everyone know it's safe and get some rest."

She nodded and we walked back to the village. "So how long does this last?"

"The transformation? I don't know. Last time I went to sleep shortly after and woke up looking normal."

We got into the city proper and she shouted out it was safe again. People started popping out of buildings and cheering. The Jotun that was put in charge of the evacuation approached Cinder and bowed. "You handled that in record time. May I ask who this stranger you have with you is?" He gave me a look of disgust.

Cinder looked at me before giving her answer. "This man helped me defeat the behemoth, you are to welcome him with respect."

The Jotun clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. "You've got to be kidding me. I refuse to bow my head to yet another mixed blood. I don't care if he has horns, I'm done taking orders from abominations like you."

Cinder snapped back "Do you have any idea who you are insulting?! Not just your queen but you seem to lack eyes or a brain to insult him. You don't see the resemblance, do you? Imagine him with white hair, a nice long beard, a beer gut, and if it helps another ten feet taller."

The man eyed me up and down, his head tilted. Eventually his eyes widened. "By the All-Father!" He took a step back. "How is that possible? Reincarnation? A first generation son with access to something like an idunn apple?"

"It's a bit of a story, maybe I'll see fit to tell you later. For now I'll take our guest to my house. We're not to be disturbed."

The man grumbled something under his breath but we ignored him and started walking. He interrupted our walk after only a few seconds. "Wait, where'd the human go?"

Cinder replied quickly "He's fine, don't worry about it." And we continued our walk.

I remained silent until we got to her house. "So why didn't you explain to him that it was me?"

"You're joking right? He's a bigot that hates the idea of tribes mixing. How do you think he'd react to me telling him a human of all things has somehow inherited the body of Ymir?"

"I guess you've got a point." I sat in a chair in her living area. "I'm guessing the do not disturb order is to keep people from seeing me change back."

"That's one reason."

"There's another?" I looked at her confused.

"There's no way you're that dense Hunter. Are you really trying to tell me you can't think of another reason I'd want to be alone~?" She winked at me.

I laughed nervously. "Good one, real funny. You agreed to being too tired to fight so even if you were serious I doubt you'd have the energy."

She walked over to me and pushed the chair I was in as she hopped into it facing me. The back of the chair on the floor with her on top she grabbed what was left of my collar. "Still think I'm joking Hunter?"

After a pause I wiggled out from under her. "I'm going to blame the adrenaline rush on that and go to bed. In the guest room." I went to the room and shut the door.

When I woke up I grabbed a spare outfit from my backpack and got dressed before exiting the room. Cinder was starting right outside the door with her arms crossed. "Uh.... hi?"

"It wasn't just the adrenaline."

"We just met the other day, even for humans that's moving fast. Besides, how do I know you're not only interested because of my transformation?"

"I... sorry. I don't mean to be so forward it's just...." she averted my gaze. "I explained before I saw you as a kindred spirit, that was before the transformation. The Jotun body is icing on the cake really. I may have misjudged but it felt like you also found me attractive. There are many who are unwilling to overlook my mixed heritage. Those I find that do haven't been a solid fit."

"You're what, 25 or so relatively speaking? Still young, so no need to rush or feel embarrassed at not being experienced in romance or related activities."

"Twenty five centuries is about right, but most nobles would have heirs at my age. Wait... you said 'even for a human that's moving fast'. What do you mean?"

I sighed "Humans age fast compared to even elves. We live around a single century. By your standards I'll be dust in the wind in a year."

She practically dropped to the floor sitting hard onto it. "That's it? That's all humans get? That hardly seems fair. Unless you extend your life with those golden apples or the body of Ymir gives you longer I'd hardly have time to know you."

"You're... not the first to take interest since my travels. Funny considering I never had luck with humans when it came to dating and romance. I'm twenty four and the longest I've ever been with a person is a half a year. I've yet to... uhhh.... take it all the way. So you aren't the only one here lacking experience in that regard."

"We can still be friends and get to know each other I guess. Who knows what the future holds."

"I have a few ideas where my path is leading, but it's good to know I'll have a friendly face waiting for me if I ever visit here again. I should get going now. I have obligations in Midgard that'll need tending to."

Cinder nodded and stood up before opening the outer door for me. "See you around Hunter [Steel-Bone]."

Shortly after leaving the building, that rude Jotun gave me a dirty look. "I don't care if the queen likes you, I'd rather die than let the royal line be tainted further. If I see you making any moves on the queen, I'll kill you myself. A skinny human like you would snap like a twig under my superior might."

"I'm tougher than I look. Honestly if it were up to me people like you would be fed to behemoths. I invite, no I dare you to try something you rude and close minded jackass."

"You're not even worth my time human."

"No, it's you who isn't worth mine." I started to walk away, expecting to be stopped and attacked by the rude man. But he simply went on with his day. Once in a good spot I transported myself home.