The lightning did not fall from the sky as a simple strike of a storm or a random display of power, but as a true spear of heavenly fury shaped by the will of the God of Thunder himself, and when it tore through the clouds and crashed into the ground before Drakar, the world for one short and blinding moment became a sea of white fire that devoured colors, shadows, and even sound, leaving behind nothing but a piercing brilliance that cut into the eyes like a blade.
Drakar had only enough time to cross his chains before him, his muscles tensing as the ancient runes carved into the blades ignited with fierce light just as the pillar of thunder slammed into the earth with such force that the air itself shattered, as if the storm had been born inside the forest.
The shockwave exploded outward.
The ground erupted.
The roots of the World Tree shuddered like the nerves of a living creature that had just felt pain.
The trees around them cracked like dry bones beneath the strike of a giant hammer.
Drakar was thrown backward, sliding across the ground through shattered bark, stone, and burning soil until his body slammed shoulder-first into a massive root that jutted from the earth like the spine of an ancient beast.
Only then did he manage to stop.
His runes burned.
The skin on his arms smoked.
The air smelled of ozone and charred wood.
But he stood up.
Slowly.
Thor stood before him.
The god had not moved an inch from his place after the strike.
His hammer was still raised, arcs of living lightning circling around him like serpents of pure energy crawling across his armor and shoulders.
"Weak," the god said calmly, as if he had not just shattered the earth itself.
Drakar wiped the blood from his lips, tasting iron mixed with the smoke of the storm.
"You just started."
The chains in his hands tightened.
Metal rang sharply.
And he lunged forward.
The chain flew first, cutting through the air with a whistle as the blade traced a wide arc toward the side of the God of Thunder.
But just before the strike landed, the air cracked.
Lightning flared.
And the metal struck not flesh—
but thunder.
A pillar of energy ignited between the blade and the god's body, as if the storm itself had become a shield.
Thor didn't even look at the blade.
He simply raised his hand.
And another bolt of lightning fell from the sky.
Drakar barely managed to jump.
The earth beneath his feet exploded in light and heat.
Selene raised her staff.
Silver light expanded around them, forming a thin magical barrier that for a moment held back the wave of thunder rolling through the forest.
"Drakar!" she shouted.
"I'm busy!" he replied, already moving again.
This time faster.
The chains wrapped around his arms.
The runes burned brighter.
He leapt into the air—
and came crashing down directly toward Thor.
Both blades slammed into the god's chest.
Sparks burst outward.
The armor rang like struck iron.
The stone beneath their feet cracked.
But Thor didn't move.
His eyes flared brighter.
"Now this is interesting."
His arm moved.
The hammer swung.
The strike was so fast that Drakar never saw it.
He only felt it.
The air exploded.
His body flew through the sky like a leaf in a storm.
He traveled dozens of meters—
before crashing into the ground.
His ribs cracked.
The air was knocked from his lungs.
For a moment the world went dark.
"Drakar!"
Selene's voice sounded distant.
He tried to rise.
Failed.
Blood poured from his mouth, mixing with dust.
Footsteps echoed nearby.
Thor approached slowly.
Each step made the ground tremble.
"This," the god said calmly, his voice heavy like thunder before a storm,
"is the difference."
He took another step.
"You kill servants."
Another.
"But I am a god."
He raised his hammer again.
The sky ignited once more.
Drakar forced his head up.
"Not… finished yet."
Thor smiled.
"On the contrary."
The hammer fell.
Lightning descended.
Selene rushed forward.
Silver magic burst into existence.
A shield formed between them—
and shattered instantly.
The thunder strike hurled her backward like a leaf in a hurricane.
Drakar saw it.
And rage exploded in his chest.
He lunged forward.
The chain wrapped around the hammer.
And he pulled.
For a moment Thor looked surprised.
And that moment was enough.
Drakar struck.
The blade slammed into the god's shoulder.
Blood.
Real blood.
Dark crimson.
Thor tilted his head.
"You…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…wounded a god."
Drakar smiled.
But in the next instant the hammer crashed into his chest.
The world exploded.
His body slammed into the roots of the World Tree.
The bark shattered.
The ground split open.
This time he did not stand.
Breathing became heavy.
The runes flickered.
The world darkened.
Thor's footsteps approached again.
"Impressive," the god said quietly.
"But not enough."
He raised the hammer.
Drakar could barely see him.
Blood flowed across the ground.
His heart beat slowly.
Very slowly.
"Drakar…"
Selene stood beside him.
Her magic was nearly gone.
"Don't… die…"
Darkness began to close around the world.
And then—
something inside his blood awakened.
A voice.
Ancient.
Deep.
"You are not finished."
Drakar barely breathed.
"Awaken me."
The serpent-shaped scar on his arm ignited.
His blood boiled.
The runes flared.
Thor felt it.
His brow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
Dark flames burst from beneath Drakar's skin.
Scales began forming across his shoulders.
His spine arched.
Bones cracked.
Selene stepped back.
"What—"
Wings erupted from his back.
Massive.
Dark.
Formed from energy and dragon scales.
The air exploded outward.
Thor watched silently.
"Dragon blood."
Drakar rose.
Slowly.
His eyes burned now.
Not blue.
Gold.
He exhaled.
Dark fire poured from his mouth.
Thor smiled.
"Now this is interesting."
Drakar didn't answer.
He grabbed Selene.
His wings spread wide.
And beat once.
The ground beneath them cracked.
They soared into the sky.
Lightning struck the place where they had stood a second earlier.
But they were already in the air.
The wind roared.
The forest shrank below them.
Selene stared at him in shock.
"You… you're flying…"
Drakar was barely conscious.
Blood poured from his wounds.
But the wings carried them.
Thor stood below.
The storm swirled around him.
He raised the hammer.
Lightning shot toward the sky—
but Drakar was already far away.
Very far.
When they disappeared among the clouds, Thor lowered his weapon.
And laughed quietly.
"Good."
He looked up at the sky.
"Run, bearer of dragon blood."
The storm slowly faded.
"Next time…"
His eyes flashed with lightning.
"I won't let you escape."
High above the world, Drakar struggled to stay in the air.
His wings began to weaken.
Selene held him.
"Stay with me!"
But he was already losing consciousness.
The last thing he heard was the voice of the Zmey.
"Now… you are beginning to awaken."
And somewhere beyond the storm,
Nyxaroth watched.
And smiled.
Because the game had just become far more interesting.