Reborn With the Infinite Gods System

The digging had gone on for more than an hour, and they'd managed to get only about five feet down. Their makeshift tools—animal bones and scraps of debris—were poor substitutes for real shovels, and each scrape of earth felt like an eternity. Without their abilities, the task seemed endless. On top of that, two members had to stand guard, so only two pairs of hands clawed at the dirt, inch by inch.

Haze and Andre kept watch, eyes flickering warily across the shadows beyond the pit's edge, while Josh and Thor dug with every ounce of strength left in their aching bodies.

"This watch is ridiculous!" Josh growled, gnashing his teeth in frustration as he flung a handful of earth aside. "It doesn't even tell us how deep we need to dig! My hands feel like they're about to fall off."

Thor stayed silent, shoving his makeshift bone shovel deeper into the ground. He knew there was no point in responding—complaining wouldn't get them to their goal any faster. Still, after a few minutes, he let out a resigned sigh. "Quit griping and keep digging. Listening to you is like having a pig squealing in my ear."

Josh stopped, momentarily stunned, before glaring back at him. Thor's words had stung, but the subtle reprimand got him back on track.

"Talking won't get this done faster," Thor continued, his voice low but firm. "We're not getting out of here if we waste time."

The two fell into a rhythm, punctuated by occasional grunts and muttered curses. As they worked, they made small talk to pass the time, trying to keep their minds off the ache in their fingers and the gnawing unease in their stomachs. But before long, that uneasy silence was shattered.

Andre crashed into the pit without warning, his body tumbling back-first and colliding with Thor with a bone-jarring impact that nearly knocked him to the ground.

"What the hell?" Thor shoved Andre off, his eyes snapping upward to take in the sight at the edge of the pit.

Standing over the bleeding form of Haze was a group of humanoid creatures, their figures draped in ragged, battle-worn clothing. They looked almost human, yet their eyes glowed with an otherworldly malice, their mouths filled with rows of jagged fangs. Blood dripped from their claws as they stepped forward, four of them closing in around the pit.

Thor's pulse raced as he turned to see Josh lying unmoving nearby, blood seeping from a gash in his side.

'How the hell did they take down both of them so fast? These things move like shadows!'

One of the creatures raised a primitive wooden pipe to its maw, aiming it squarely at Thor. He barely registered the gleam of the red dart before it struck him in the neck, burying itself deep into his flesh. A searing pain erupted, blood bubbling from the wound as he growled, staggering from the force.
Explore new worlds at empire

But instead of falling back, he summoned every ounce of defiance within him. His vision blurred, yet he roared and lunged forward, his fist connecting with the closest creature's face. The impact made it stagger, though not enough to bring it down.

Thor didn't waste a second, knowing he was up against impossible odds. The creatures were closing in, their eyes filled with cold, predatory calculation as they prepared to finish him off.

He spread his arms wide, a silent prayer echoing through his mind, 'Please… Mjölnir…'

But his attackers weren't about to give him that much time. One of the creatures launched forward, moving so fast it was nearly a blur. In its clawed hand was a rusty, jagged knife, and before Thor could react, it plunged the blade into his eye socket.

A white-hot flash of agony tore through him as he screamed, clutching at the creature's wrist in a desperate attempt to stop it from driving the blade deeper. Blood poured from the ruined eye, his vision reduced to a foggy tunnel.

The creature snarled and retaliated, its knee smashing into his gut with brutal force. Thor gasped, his whole body vibrating with pain as he staggered back, clutching his stomach.

"No… I won't lose… not again… not to anyone!" he growled, blood spewing from his mouth as he steadied himself, locking his gaze onto the advancing creatures.

He took a shaky breath, a single thought filling his mind like a desperate plea. 'Come to me… Mjölnir.'

He raised his head, his one remaining eye blazing with defiance, and screamed at the heavens. "Come to me, Mjölnir!"

For a second, there was only silence, a mocking stillness. But then, the sky above cracked open, filling with an array of radiant colors as lightning descended like the wrath of the gods. The earth trembled, a blinding flash tearing through the ground, and two of the creatures were reduced to ashes in an instant.

The remaining two staggered back, dazed, their senses scrambled as they gazed at the smoking pit Thor stood in, a mighty hammer now clutched in his hands. Sparks of lightning danced around him, illuminating the blood-streaked, defiant figure in the middle of the chaos.

"Thor… Odinson?" one of the creatures stammered, its voice trembling with something between awe and terror. They quickly dropped to their knees, bowing their heads low as if in reverence.

Thor looked down at them, his eye narrowing. The creatures were clad in rusty armor, their grotesque forms hunched as they groveled before him.

"The god… Thor Odinson?" another creature whispered.

The murmurs were interrupted by a series of heavy thuds, as more creatures emerged from the shadows, all dropping to their knees, their heads bowed in submission. Dozens—no, hundreds—of these strange beings, clad in mismatched armor and wielding crude weapons, bowed to him with an air of fearful reverence.

"Get up!" Thor bellowed, lightning arcing around him as his grip on Mjölnir tightened. "I don't kill those who submit, but that doesn't mean you're free of consequences. Stand and face judgment for what you've done!"

The creatures quivered, some flinching at his booming voice, yet none of them rose. One, braver than the rest, finally lifted its head to address him.

"We… we shall not defy Thor Odinson, son of Odin, ruler of all Nine Realms."

Thor blinked, confusion flickering across his bloodied face. "Who is this 'Odin'?"

The question hung in the air, but none of the creatures answered, merely bowing deeper, their heads nearly touching the ground as silence fell over them like a shroud.

Frustration gnawed at him, and he raised Mjölnir high, fully prepared to unleash his wrath. But something held him back, a faint glimmer of mercy.

"Damn you all!" he spat, lowering the hammer. His gaze shifted to his unconscious companions lying around the pit, their bodies broken and vulnerable. A pang of urgency flared within him.

"Help… help them," he growled, his voice barely a whisper as the last of his lightning began to flicker out.

One of the creatures, who appeared to be a leader, barked an order, and a few others hurried to the pit, carefully lifting Josh, Andre, and Haze and tending to their wounds, removing the darts embedded in their flesh.

After a few tense moments, the leader turned back to Thor. "Shall we take them to our shelter to heal? The air around here is thick with poison."

Thor nodded slowly. "But first… who's in charge?"

The creatures exchanged wary glances before one of them, clad in the least tattered armor and exuding a dark, enigmatic presence, stepped forward. His gaze was steady, exuding a confidence that made him stand out from the rest. Bowing his head, he addressed Thor directly.

"What would you ask of me, my lord?"

Thor's gaze hardened, his remaining eye narrowing as he considered his words. "Do you know where the Monitor is?"

A hush fell over the crowd, and a shiver ran through the gathered creatures. They exchanged anxious looks before the leader spoke again, his voice low. "It has been destroyed… and the weapon it created has gone missing."

Thor's pulse spiked. "What do you mean it's missing? Without that weapon, how are we supposed to defeat the Voidwalkers?"

The leader's silence was thick with meaning before he replied, "The Sword of the God of War is in Midgard… with your father. He has stationed us as guardians of the gates."

Thor's mind raced. 'My father… in Midgard? But I killed him. This has to be some twisted game.'

He tightened his grip on Mjölnir, deciding to play along—for now. "Then you'll take us there. I have others who need shelter and rest."

The leader nodded, his voice steady. "We shall lead you to Midgard, my lord. And we will protect you, as is our duty."