Chapter 217: Leaving Everything Behind
In the midst of fighting, all Asgardians failed to notice the swirling storm inside the dome. It was constantly pulsing in and out, like a beating heart; ready to burst at any moment.
They couldn't be blamed for their blindness however, as the battlefield had lost all strategy, and had devolved into a skirmish between ravenous beasts.
Sixth-dimensional beings, whom many of them worshiped, were fighting tooth and nail to gain ground over the other. Asgardians died left and right to the turmoils of their collisions. While the rebels were kept safe by a ticking time bomb.
Unlike the Asgardians, they had noticed the change. And they weren't taking it too well. Sure, Hephastius was there, stopping them from attempting to lash out. But that didn't stop them from being skittish.
As for Ragnar, well he was holding up. He had infinite knowledge, like a book about everything recorded in time at the ready. But it doesn't mean he knows its content. Even he had limits, especially in this form, so close to his final destination.
He wanted to fight, to carry the burden on his shoulders only. If he failed, it was his fault, and he would pay for it. But if others fought his battles for him and lost, they'd pay the price of his own mistakes. This made him carry the burden of the world.
Ragnar had lost himself fighting Vali, but he was slowly changing. Adapting to a new form of challenge: restraint.
It was the hardest thing he had ever done! In battle he was strong, in theory he was smart, but in practice he failed. He had many faults he refused to admit to. He was powerful, so powerful. He had suffered greatly and been forged in the fires of trial and triumphs. How could he have faults?
That was what he told himself, as he knocked his head against the next problem.
Every exchange was the same on the battlefield. Ragnar went in, fought, was pushed back, managed to create leeway, and left to repeat.
The same events unfolded themselves for all to see. Minutes passed, destruction wreaked havoc on all that wasn't already obliterated by the tides of energy. And eventually the time came. It was here and now Ragnar would be tested. Would his impatience, and anger for the world hold him back. Or would he finally take a step forward.
In the midst of his fight the alarm went off. A signal he and Hephastus had planted in one another. It stood for one thing "It is time". Now or never! If he pulled out, he would live. He would go on to fight against seventh dimensional beings. Whom were almost infinite times stronger than him. The only minor advantage he had now was nothing there. And if he stayed, everything would finally end, with all his problems and disputes left unsolved. Ragnar chose the first option.
-Everyone, execute sequence one!-
Ragnar yelled. His voice reached far and wide, traveling beyond the meager walls of the realms. Reaching all dimensions the explosion would reach.
Around him, allies and friends retreated. While he remained. He knew no restraints, still. He would hold off a horde of angry sixth-dimensional beings on their last leg; all alone.
Of course the usual occurred. A blade there, and another there. Water versions of himself, controlled by his other self. Together they fought valiantly, but Odin, Idun, Vali and more didn't like that so much. No matter his skill with the sword, or the infinite amount of energy at his disposal, he failed to hold them off. He was defeated and held back.
But as they pushed him down against the ground and took off to try to do something to save themselves, a change occurred.
A pulse of pure heat exploded out of the dome surrounding Svartalfheim. It obliterated reality around them and morphed everything. As it reached the sixth-dimensional beings, they were thrown aside.
The energy carried past the realm and reached the dimension causing chaos, but it wasn't enough yet. Shortly after the first, another pulse came, and then, as they were thrown off their feet and launched, an incredible force began sucking them towards the wall.
Ragnar smiled, and bloated in his success. Even though they had humbled him slightly in combat he still won. Screw restraints. He could do this all day. But, time waits for no one, not even the incarnation of the past.
As they touched the wall, Ragnar passed through. The others however. Well, they weren't so lucky. They were torn to shreds inside the wall of pure destruction, energy and mass.
As Ragnar entered the dome, a blue, goddess-like being caught him and sighed.
-You're not even the strongest here! Why are you trying to act like it?-
She berated him. Her words were quite harsh, but her tone was nothing like it. Unlike all their dangerous stunts before, Ragnar would have actually died just now, if he hadn't passed through the dome.
-I'm fine, aren't I? No need to worry about me. Let's just watch the fireworks about to unfold.-
Ragnar sheepishly said, and tried to steer the conversation's direction towards something that wouldn;t get him skinned alive.
Luckily for him, a perfect distraction came, in the form of a loud, bright explosion.
The cluster of ever expanding blackholes began merging, and the energy around them began swirling as one big mass and energy. A new kind of blackhole was born and it was hollow inside.
Of course it wouldn't allow that, so it began swallowing itself, and the realm inside, Svartalfheim. This is where Ragthor came into play. The two realms switched places, literally. Well a bit of them at least. Everyone was thrown into Ragthor, as the connection between realms was cut thanks to the immense power of the blackholes.
This process took barely a second. But it was already cutting it close. Not even a moment later, after the realm left, the blackhole closed on itself. Swallowing its massive amount of energy in itself which imploded inside.
But the massive amount of energy and mass suddenly compressed couldn't be held in place, and like a spring it bursted out, in the form of a colorful explosion. It broke through all restraints and reached all realms and dimensions connected to it.
At that time, immeasurable mortals, celestials, gods, giants and titans died. They disappeared like a drop in the ocean.
#Congratulations Ragnar, your limits have been removed#
The system informed him moments after they disappeared. In that short time, Norse mythology was wiped off the map. And his deal with the All Knowing was finished.
He was about to rejoice, when he felt something inside him. An uncontainable amount of energy traveling all over his body. Whether his physical one, or his true self.
He went from seventy to seventy one, then to eighty, and ninety. He was reaching new heights of power previously only dreamed about, or experienced in the river of time.
Ratri seemed to notice his ascent and smiled.
-Finally leaving us in the dust, huh. Now that this is all over, you don't need us anymore. Well, that's fair. But I'll have you know. Even as I return to my time, you've changed me and eventually I'll escape again. Justice made sure I would understand that!-
She said. Her words were uttered fast and her actions even faster. She hugged Ragnar tightly and smiled and waved. Then she disappeared like she was never there. But Ragnar didn't have time to consider what just happened. He still had one thing to do.
He reached out to a power long since foreign to him and called upon it. A rift to chaos was opened at that instant.
He rushed without looking back, into his throne room and sat on the throne. The same throne that started this mess, all that time ago. So much had happened since then, and this was his chance to get back at them.
If he denounced his claim to the throne, and let chaos lose, but only into the sixth dimension where the All Knowing lived, he'd get them all. While getting his petty revenge on chaos for hating him so much.
As he sat on the throne he thought back in life. When did everything become like this? It used to be him and his friends against the world. Now almost none of them remained, and he would never see the ones left again. He thought back to the first friends he had, smiling at his old self. He would leave now and enter the final volume of his life and finally be done with it!
Ragnar smiled sadly, as he looked at his father's grave. A man that hated him, for not being born like him. A man he had been told good things about all the time by Paarthadox, just to find out it was all a lie, or as far as he knew, at least.
Layer after layer went by, and eventually he reached tier hundred. His body began etching and it was at this moment he denounced his claim. The world stopped working, as everything became cracked mirrors. He saw endless worlds and realities within chaos reach. many beyond the veil he knew off. But he already knew where he wanted to go.
He found the sixth dimension easily, thanks to his connection to it. And then he connected all the cracks to the sixth dimension, leaving none open for other options.
Then he sat there and waited. He could see the All Knowing die before his eyes. Mimir was the first to go, and many others followed. He couldn't help but smile in joy at the sight. But eventually he had to close his eyes. His time was running out and soon he would disappear from here. And a new journey awaited him in a new place.
The sound of screams blissfully put Ragnar to sleep.
End of the volume.
(Author note: This will be a long one!
I've said this before and I'll say it again. I will not drop this book! I may have been a little dweeb when I began writing this and I still am. I wouldn't make the kind of mistake now, as I did back then. The book is rough, and I know it. But by my principal, I will hold onto it. In other words, I will finish the darn book!
Writing a project which holds me back, like this one, is exhausting. Especially since I have new ideas every day, which I want to start at. And not to mention the fact that I can do better. I'm held back by my writing on this book, since I already set the tone.
Last but not least, life! I have a life outside the book, and when I gave into free time, and not having to feel the looming edge of a scheduled chapter, I felt slightly free. And with every day without writing a chapter to "this" book, the concept of writing this book seemed foreign to me.
But, no excuses. I will begin posting again. Can't say when, but most likely the new chapter, after this one will come within a week. Let's not set the rib too high this time. 7 chapters of two thousand words a week is not for me.
Anyways, I'm sorry for the unannounced hitatus, I just didn't want to face myself or you readers, author out :) )