After what felt like an eternity of honing his powers and mastering his magic, Harry finally felt ready to venture beyond the small area he had occupied for years on the strange, desolate planet. The endless time he spent perfecting his control had kept him in one place, but now, with his abilities stabilized, Harry felt a renewed sense of curiosity. It was time to explore.
Packing up his magical tent, which had been his sanctuary for so long, Harry set out into the barren landscape. The planet was eerily silent, with its dark mountains and valleys stretching into the horizon, devoid of any visible life. The air was thick, almost oppressive, and the land itself seemed steeped in an ancient, lingering energy—an energy that Harry, as the Master of Death, had slowly learned to harness.
As he traveled deeper into the planet’s terrain, Harry began to notice something odd. There was an abundance of a strange metal embedded in the ground, unlike anything he had seen before. At first, it appeared as small clusters in the rock formations, but as he explored further, he found entire deposits of it—massive veins of the metal stretching across the landscape like the remnants of a meteorite impact.
Intrigued, Harry used his magic to extract a chunk of the metal. It was surprisingly lightweight for its size, but what struck him most was its responsiveness to his magic. The moment his spell touched the metal, it vibrated slightly, almost as if it had a magical resonance of its own. It was incredibly strong and durable, but what caught Harry's attention was how easily it absorbed and amplified magical energy. It was unlike any material he had ever encountered before, and the potential for its use in magical crafting was limitless.
Harry realized that this was no ordinary metal—it was something far more valuable. Without hesitation, he began collecting as much of it as he could, summoning it from the ground in large chunks. With the vast reserves of the metal spread across the planet, Harry quickly found himself gathering what seemed like tons of it, much more than he could ever need. The largest deposit appeared to be from a colossal meteorite that had likely crashed into the planet eons ago, leaving behind a vast crater filled with the precious material.
But Harry had no intention of leaving it behind. His years of studying alchemy and experimenting with various magical metals and alloys made it clear that this metal had immense potential. He had already been practicing the art of creating alloys, and this metal seemed to react uniquely with his magic, making it ideal for further experimentation.
Using his magic, Harry easily transported the metal into his endless supply of magical trunks. He stored thousands of tons of it, meticulously organizing it by quality and size. Each piece of metal was secured, ready for when he would eventually experiment with it more deeply. The trunks, charmed to hold vast amounts of weight and volume, were perfect for this task, and Harry knew that with his abilities, the metal was in safe hands.
Even as he collected the metal, Harry could feel a growing sense of anticipation. This strange new material could be the key to crafting magical items or enhancing his abilities further. The more he worked with it, the more he realized its potential. The metal’s innate magical properties made it far superior to anything he had encountered before, and with his mastery of alchemy, Harry knew he could create something truly extraordinary from it.
After securing the metal in his trunks, Harry paused to consider the possibilities. He had spent so many years on this planet, refining his powers, learning its secrets, and now he had discovered something truly unique. But there was still so much left to explore. The planet held more mysteries, and with his new metal securely stored, Harry felt ready to uncover them.
As he set off again, Harry couldn’t help but wonder what other surprises this strange, desolate world had in store for him. And with each step he took, he felt a renewed sense of purpose—an understanding that his journey was far from over. The metal was just the beginning, and the unknown world stretched out before him, waiting to reveal its secrets.
As Harry ventured further into the northern region of the planet, the landscape grew even darker and more foreboding. The terrain became harsher, with jagged mountains piercing the horizon and deep valleys shrouded in mist. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on him, but his power had grown so vast that even the energy of this strange world felt like a mere background hum compared to the immense magical force he wielded.
Then, he sensed it—a faint ripple of magic, like a disturbance in the natural flow of the planet's energy. It drew him forward, and as he crested a ridge, he saw it: a vast, shimmering barrier stretching across the land like an enormous dome. The barrier's surface was translucent, but Harry could see flashes of strange lights and faint shadows moving within. It was clear to him that this was no natural phenomenon; it had been placed there by someone or something with significant magical knowledge.
Curious, Harry approached the barrier. As he drew nearer, he could feel the intricate web of spells that composed it—layers upon layers of ancient magic, woven together to form a near-impenetrable shield. Whoever had created this dome had great skill, but Harry could sense immediately that their power was nowhere near his own. The barrier might have been formidable once, but now, after years of absorbing the planet's energy and refining his magic, Harry was far beyond its creator.
Placing a hand against the barrier, Harry closed his eyes and let his magic flow through him, searching for weaknesses. It didn’t take long for him to find them. The barrier was old, and though it was still strong, it had been designed with a specific purpose—to keep something in. But it was not strong enough to keep someone like Harry out.
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What intrigued him most was what he sensed inside the dome. There was life—a presence, faint but undeniable. Someone, or perhaps many people, were alive in there, trapped within the confines of this magical prison. Harry's instincts told him they had been there for a long time, maybe even centuries.
A flicker of thought crossed his mind: Should he leave this mystery alone? He was already so powerful that it seemed nothing could truly challenge him. But the curiosity that had always been a part of him, the desire to uncover the unknown, spurred him forward. He had to know who or what was inside.
With a single, effortless wave of his hand, Harry began to unravel the outer layers of the dome’s magic. It took mere moments for him to create an opening in the barrier, but rather than simply walking through, Harry conjured a portal. The barrier was old and unstable; breaching it directly might cause unintended consequences, but a portal would allow him to bypass the barrier without damaging it or alerting whoever—or whatever—was inside.
The portal shimmered before him, a swirling vortex of light and shadow. Without hesitation, Harry stepped through.
On the other side, the atmosphere changed instantly. The air was heavier, filled with magic, and the landscape within the dome was starkly different from the bleakness of the planet outside. Inside the dome, the ground was a mix of cracked earth and strange, pulsing lights that ran in veins beneath the surface. The sky above, though still dark, was illuminated by a dim, otherworldly glow, and in the distance, Harry could make out the silhouette of structures—tall, spire-like buildings, faintly glowing with magical energy.
And then, he felt it again—life. It was closer now, stronger, as if whatever or whoever was trapped inside had sensed his presence.
Harry walked cautiously toward the structures, his senses alert. As he moved closer, he began to make out details of the place—it was a city, or what had once been a city. The spires were crumbling, and the streets between them were cracked and overgrown with strange, glowing vines. But despite the decay, the magical energy in the air was palpable, pulsing in rhythmic waves, as if the city itself was alive.
Before Harry could take another step toward the city, his finely honed instincts flared. Something was wrong. In an instant, he spun around, narrowly dodging a blade that whistled through the air where his back had been just a moment earlier. The sword embedded itself into the ground with a metallic clang, and a woman, armored and moving with inhuman speed, charged at him.
Harry’s eyes quickly took her in: tight, black armor hugging her body, spiky bone-like hair, and a look of pure, cold determination on her face. Her speed was staggering, and as she closed the distance, another sword appeared in her hand, forming from her very essence as if conjured from her bones. She slashed at him in a flurry of blows, each strike deadly and precise, but Harry evaded them all with ease, his enhanced reflexes far outpacing hers. She was fast, incredibly so, but Harry was faster.
The woman let out a frustrated growl as Harry effortlessly dodged her attacks. Deciding to end this quickly, Harry grabbed her by the arm mid-swing and, with a calculated amount of force, tossed her through the air. The woman flew backward, crashing into one of the crumbling buildings of the ancient city, causing part of the structure to collapse under the impact.
Harry watched as she rose to her feet, seemingly unfazed by the damage she had taken. The sword reappeared in her hand, growing from her bone-like hair, and she rushed at him once more, relentless and unyielding.
As they clashed, Harry found himself intrigued. He could feel that she was powerful—far more than any ordinary opponent. Her movements were precise, her strikes deadly, but still, she was no match for him. Harry didn’t need to go all out, merely blocking her attacks with minimal effort. He sensed something deeper behind her fury, something beyond simple aggression.
The fight continued for several minutes, and though Harry could have ended it at any time, he held back, wanting to understand who this woman was. After one particularly brutal exchange, Harry grew tired of the game. With a swift motion, he disarmed her, sending her sword flying through the air, and then he pinned her to the ground with a magical force, rendering her immobile.
The woman struggled beneath him, her bone-like hair thrashing as she tried to break free. But Harry’s power far exceeded hers, and it became clear that she was no match for him.
"I'm not one to underestimate my opponents," Harry said, his voice calm but commanding. "But attacking from behind? That was a mistake."
He knelt beside her, placing a hand on her head. "Let's see who you are."
Without hesitation, Harry delved into her mind using Legilimency. His mastery of the art, now amplified by the overwhelming power he had accumulated, allowed him to sift through her memories with ease. Time flowed differently in the realm of the mind, and though only a few minutes passed in the physical world, Harry experienced years of her memories in a matter of moments.
He saw her younger years, the rise of her power, the countless battles she had fought, and the immense bloodshed she had caused. But what stood out most was her imprisonment—a punishment for her ambition and lust for power. She was Hela, daughter of Odin, the Goddess of Death. Betrayed by her father and sealed away, her power feared even by the gods.
As Harry withdrew from her mind, he stood up, gazing down at her with a mixture of understanding and caution. Hela’s eyes narrowed as she struggled against the magical bindings that held her.
“You know who I am now,” she said, her voice cold but edged with a sense of resignation. “So, what will you do? Finish me off like the others feared to?”
Harry remained silent for a moment, contemplating his next move. Hela was dangerous, that much was clear. But he wasn’t one to act rashly, especially when there was more to be gained by understanding his adversary.
“I’m not like those who imprisoned you,” Harry finally said. “I have no reason to fear you. But I also have no sympathy for those who attack without provocation.”
Hela smirked bitterly. “I did what I had to. You are an unknown, an intruder in this realm. I couldn’t afford to take chances.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. “And yet you were defeated.”
Her eyes flashed with anger, but she didn’t respond.
“Tell me,” Harry continued, his voice steady, “what is this place, and why are you still here because I know you have power to leave this place?”
Hela hesitated, as if weighing her options. But after a moment, she spoke, her tone grudging.
“This is Helhiem,my prison. Odin, my father, sealed me here after I sought to claim what was rightfully mine. The realms, the throne of Asgard... all of it. But he feared my power, feared what I would become and if I escaped he will know and he will bind me even tighter.”
Harry nodded, understanding more of the picture now. “And the barrier?”
“A part of the seal,” Hela replied. “It keeps me contained, keeps my power in check. Or at least, it used to.”
Harry sensed that much. The barrier, though formidable, was nothing compared to what he could now wield. And he realized that Hela had probably sensed the shift in power the moment he arrived on the planet.
For a moment, Harry considered what to do next. Hela was clearly a threat, but she was also a key to understanding this strange planet and the forces that had shaped it. He could destroy her, remove the danger, but something told him that Hela’s knowledge could be valuable—perhaps even necessary for whatever lay ahead.
He released the magical bindings holding her in place but kept a watchful eye on her.
“I’m not your enemy, Hela,” he said. “But if you try to attack me again, I won’t hesitate to defend myself.”
Hela rose to her feet, her eyes wary but intrigued. “And what is it you want, then? Why spare me?”
Harry glanced at the ancient city around them. “I want answers. About this place, about the power that lies here. And you’re going to help me leave here.”