The Old World, The Cartel, Mirthil Mountains

The crystal goblet shattered and its contents splashed out but the dwarvan dressed in a rich green doublet ignored the mess as he stared off into the distance. Shards of crystal exploded outwards but strangely enough, none of the sharp pieces left even a mark on the clenched fist of the dwarvan, in fact, he didn't even seem to have noticed anything as he stood there motionless.

"Lord Roth!" His retainers cried out in surprise and one of them hurried forward with a towel. Lord Roth blinked rapidly several times before he realised what had happened and he waved his retainers away.

"I am not hurt, there's no need to panic!" Lord Roth wiped his hand with the towel. "Leave me, we will continue our talks tomorrow."

His retainers looked at each other before they stood up, bowed and exited the room, leaving Lord Roth alone in the study. He turned his sights once more to the far distance as if his eyes could pierce through the stone walls and stared unblinking for several moments before he let out a sigh.

He walked out to the balcony and looked up to the skies before saying softly, "What we have dreaded has come..."

"Caaaaw!" A raven the size of an adult landed on the balcony. It flapped its midnight black wings and as it folded them, the wings wrapping around its body turned into a feathery cloak and a fierce looking one eyed middle aged man stood in its place.

"Greetings, All Father," The dwarvan went down on one knee and paid his respects. "After all these centuries... He has rewoken..."

"With his awakening, those that have slumbered would wake up as well," The one eyed figure shook his head before he turned and walked into the room. "This world will soon be covered in blood once more and many will enter Valha..."

"Do not get too attached to the mortals," He continued as he filled himself a goblet of wine from the table. "Remember your identity!"

"Yes, All Father," The dwarvan bowed once more and his hand clasped a necklace in the shape of a hammer. "Your son hears and remembers."

"You have stayed amongst the mortals for many moons, I do not expect your heart to be made of ice, do what you need to but remember your true identity," The All Father grimaced as he took a sip of the wine. "Ahhh... You enjoy this weak drink?"

The dwarvan smiled and shook his head before retorting, "Your son has lived amongst the mortals and have acquired some taste to it."

"Bah!" The All Father sneered but still he finished the wine. "I have observed a mighty ship of iron and many flying ships coming out of the Maelstrom... and it has the smell of another Pantheon on them."

"I could not divine anything out of them," The All Father rubbed the empty socket of his eye unconsciously. "I could divine nothing out of anything that comes from the Maelstrom..."

"It might have something to do with our missing exploration fleet into the Sea of Clouds..." The dwarvan frowned. "Maybe we can find out how to enter the Maelstrom from these newcomers?"

"Maybe," The All Father poured another glass of wine for himself. "But that One has awoken now... It will be a difficult battle if He has recovered as much as a quarter of His powers..."

"Much of our Brethren were defeated just by Him alone..." The All Father growled as he recalled the last battle. "My powers has weakened greatly and with the pitiful amount of worshipers in this world... Our strength can never grow to our prime..."

"Maybe it was a mistake to leave Asguard..." The dwarvan whispered softly at the side but was still heard. The All Father sighed and set down his goblet before heading out to the balcony once more. He shook his feathered cloak and it grew, stretching out to become wings and a massive one eyed raven soon stood in the balcony.

"Caaaw!" The one eyed raven let out a mournful cry and cast a last look at the dwarvan before it turned to the skies and threw itself into the air, its long wings flapping hard. The dwarvan stood silently at the balcony and watched the black raven disappear into the skies before he turned back in, his eyes filled with fire.

-----

The Old World, UN FOB, Fort Anchorage

"Be careful with it!" Plee hovered nervously over the Marines and techs transporting the box that contained her core onboard the airship. Earlier, she was received her new orders given by Captain Nemo that she will join the delegation to the lands of the Dragons and her core will be moved onboard the Old Ugly and serve as her Weapons Officer.

Excited, she packed her stuff and hurried off to the cargo bay where a freight elevator brought her divine core up from the armored belly of the Vengeance. She followed the team moving the core out of the Vengeance and onboard the Old Ugly. Without the magical dungeon/divine core powering the Vengeance and providing power to the base, power generation was switched over fire elemental's heart.

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"Look after that kid," Captain Nemo said to Trism as they watched the god girl hopping onboard the Old Ugly. "She might be a God, but she's still a naive kid..."

"I got it," Trism nodded and smiled at the expression on Captain Nemo. "You look like a father seeing his daughter going off on her own into the world."

"Well... She is a good child..." Captain Nemo blushed. "It just feels... sad to see her go..."

"I get it," Trism nodded once more and he turned to enter the super structure of the Vengeance. "I got an order to tie up some loose ends before we can depart. We will see each other again at another time!"

"Take care and good luck on your mission!" Captain Nemo gave his well wishes to Trism who disappeared into the ship. Trism headed to the elevator which brought him deep into the interior of the Vengeance. When the elevator doors swung open, a couple of Marines manning a security checkpoint eyed him watchfully. They checked his identity both physically and magically before saluting and allowing him access into the deck.

He soon came to the brig of the Vengeance and after another security check, he entered one of the cells. The walls of the cells were padded but still, much of the padding had been torn out. Crouching in one corner was a wretched looking figure, mumbling to himself. Trism stepped into the cell together with a couple of Orkish Marines and he stood there for a moment, observing the prisoner.

"... am thee law... the law am I..." The figure mumbled to himself as he scratched at the torn padding. His fingernails had long been ripped off and black stains of dried blood covered the padded walls, yet the figure did not stop his actions.

Trism let out a soft sigh and he loosened the flap of his holster. He drew out his pistol and checked it before he pointed to the head of the prisoner and said, "This is too good of a release for an evil being like you."

Gunshots echoed out from the cells and shortly after, Trism stepped out of the cell. He reholstered his weapon and adjusted his uniform before leaving the brig and heading to his next mission.

-----

"Whoa!" Marine Major James cried out as the ground beneath his feet trembled. Lately, there has been more and more such quakes occurring and none of the egg heads knew what was causing the earthquakes. After a while, the tremors stopped and his men who paused their boarding looked around in confusion until a sergeant started yelling at them to move their asses.

"What is fuck is wrong with this place?" Mills sighed as he picked himself off the floor. "Even the fucking ground is trying to fuck with us!"

"Earthquakes getting more and more frequent..." James frowned. "But from what I know, there's no volcanic activity around nor are we on some plate boundaries..."

"Shit, I don't need you to go all professor with me!" Mills put on an expression of mock horror. "I joined the Marines... Not college!"

"You learn this shit in high school just for your info..." James laughed as he shook his head at Mills antics. "Gods... You really need to read up more!"

"Well... this shit is for those egg heads to figure out," Mills grinned. "I'm the guy who kills aliens and eats babies!"

James laughed again before he gestured to the waiting Marines on the ground and said, "Three companies of Marines would be coming along for the mission to the lands of the dragons."

"They will be spread out on three ships," James gestured to the airships. "You will take charge of Bravo company on the Old Ugly. Alpha will be with me on the Icarus. Dowlen will be taking Charlie on the Daedalus"

"Shit, robocop is coming along?" Mills exclaimed as he pointed to the huge hulking war machine being loaded into the Icarus's cargo bay.

"Apparently, he's on some kind of redemption mission. He seemed to want to kill as much of those Protectorate as possible..." James sighed. "Then again, I don't mind the extra firepower Dijon possesses..."

"And... the crazy God girl is coming along too..." Mills grinned. "What a circus! What's next? A talking dolphin?"

"Not sure why High Commands wants the girl along..." James frowned. "Still we got plenty of firepower if shit hits the fan..."

"One modernized Loose Confederation 'Planker' class merchant ship, two Icarus class air frigates, three heavy weight dragons, two attack helos, three companies of Marines, one angry war machine and one emo God girl... Yup plenty of firepower enough to take on anything!" Mills continued grinning to James as they made their way to the waiting airships. "If it wasn't enough, Big Brother is just a call away..."

"Seriously, I really hope we can get back home," James said. "I meant Haven, I miss my wife."

"Well, lover boy, what's so fun about staying all safe at home?" Mills winked. "Here, we get to shoot at things that... can't shoot back!"

"Did you call back or send any messages to that duchess of yours?" James slyly retorted back.

"Erm..." Mills scratched his head awkwardly. "Well... I did send a letter and a gift back to her..."

"Aren't you worried that she will find someone else if you keep on dragging your heels out here?" James asked seriously. "She is, after all, a Duchess of the Empire and the Governer of Orwell's Point... I'm sure there are plenty of suitors after her..."

"I... urgh..." Mills sighed. "I don't know, man..."

"When Drake died... I saw how heartbroken Irisval became after she got the news of Drake's death..." Mills paused in his steps and he glanced out to the far horzion. "I don't dare to get close to Titanna..."

"I'm not afraid of death," Mills gave a shrug as he turned back to face James. "But... I don't want my death to affect... her..."

"I- We... are soldiers," Mills continued walking to the airships. "We can die anytime and this god crazy world... I- I don't know how to face her..."

"Fuck," James shook his head. "That's some high level thoughts you got there..."

"Didn't figure you to be such a romantic," James said. "Still, don't keep the lady waiting... If you don't want to commit to the relationship... Tell her. Don't waste her time!"

"Yeah... I got it. You take care!" Mills nodded and gave a wave as he headed towards the UNS Old Ugly while James stood there watching him join the queue boarding the airship. He shook his head and turned to the boarding line for the UNS Icarus.

James sighed as he mumbled to himself, "Fucking join the Marines... See the fucking world and die alone in some fucking hell hole..."