Eclipse of Eternities

Orion's POV –

Three days.

That's how long it had been since I faced Tyr in battle, since I lost control of my divine blood. I had thrown everything I had at him, fought to a stalemate, and then my body had collapsed under the weight of my own power.

I still wasn't sure how I felt about that.

Valhalla had become familiar in that short time. Eat. Train. Die. Repeat. Warriors sparred endlessly, testing their skills, preparing for battles that might never come. But I had one goal: reclaim my strength.

Since the fight with Tyr, I couldn't activate my god-mode. Something in me locked up when I tried to call on that power again. My mother's legacy had awakened once, but now?

Nothing.

So I trained harder.

That morning, I had barely gotten out of the training pits before someone called my name.

"Orion!"

I turned, wiping sweat from my forehead. A Valkyrie stood at the entrance of the hall, golden armor gleaming. "You've been summoned by Odin."

I blinked. "Now?"

"Now."

From across the room, a red-haired warrior leaned back in his chair, chuckling. I recognized him immediately—Siegfried, my ancestor. The guy who killed the dragon Fafnir. He was laughing with his friends, Helgi and Simo Häyhä, the legendary Finnish sniper.

Siegfried smirked. "The All-Father doesn't call just anyone, you know. This must be important."

Great. Because divine politics and war gods weren't stressful enough.

I grabbed my gear and followed Helgi through the golden halls of Valhalla. The closer we got to Odin's chamber, the heavier the pressure became—like stepping into the heart of a storm.

The massive doors swung open.

Odin sat on his throne, his ravens watching me sharply, his single eye burning with wisdom and calculation.

"You're adjusting well," he said. "But it is time for you to prove yourself outside these halls."

I stood straighter. "I assume this isn't just a training exercise?"

Odin's smile was edged with something sharp. "There is a disturbance in the realms. Fire giants have begun attacking villages in Vanaheim, and rogue Jotnar have stirred trouble in Alfheim. Normally, Asgard would send a force, but I have other matters to handle."

I frowned. "You want me to take care of it?"

Odin leaned forward. "Consider this your first mission as a warrior of Valhalla. I am sending you and five others to deal with the problem."

My first quest.

I wasn't going to lie—it felt damn good to be trusted with something like this.

"I accept."

Odin raised his hand. The runes around his throne began glowing, and suddenly, I felt a rush of energy flood into my weapons.

My mother's necklace—my spear—glowed with new engravings. Odin's voice rumbled:

"I have inscribed upon your spear the Runes of Transformation, Accuracy, and Power—allowing it to adapt to your combat needs."

The adamantine shield on my wrist shimmered as another set of runes appeared.

"I have inscribed the Runes of Protection and Passage. With this, you can withstand greater force and move freely between the Nine Realms, so long as you follow the laws of Valhalla."

I clenched my fist, feeling the divine power coursing through my weapons.

This was huge.

Odin's gaze hardened. "Choose your team. Be prepared—this will not be a simple battle."

I stood in the grand feasting hall of Valhalla, scanning the warriors around me. Five fighters. That's what I needed.

I wasn't looking for legends like Siegfried or Simo Häyhä. They had earned their peace. I respected that. What I needed were warriors who were skilled, hungry for battle, and able to follow my lead.

First Recruit – Freya (The Valkyrie, Daughter of loki)

"Well, obviously, I'm coming with you."

I turned to see Freya smirking, arms crossed.

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't get a choice?"

She shrugged. "Nope. You're my responsibility. If you die, I have to be the one to drag your sorry ass back here. So I might as well make sure you don't die in the first place."

I crossed my arms. "And here I thought you just wanted an excuse to fight."

Freya smirked. "I mean, that too."

She flicked her dagger into the air and caught it with ease. "Besides, I know the Nine Realms better than you. You need someone who won't let you walk into a portal and get eaten by some eldritch horror."

I sighed. "Fair point."

Freya winked. "Of course it is."

I chuckled. "Welcome aboard."

---

Second Recruit – Erik the Red (Berserker, Nordic Warrior)

A massive, red-haired warrior slammed his drinking horn onto the table, sending ale splashing over the edges. He had broad shoulders, a beard like a wildfire, and eyes that burned with a thirst for battle.

"If there are giants to slay," he boomed, "then I will fight with you!"

I glanced at Freya. "Does he always announce himself like that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, yes."

Erik grinned like a madman. "Bah! What is battle without a little passion? I have seen you fight, Orion. You do not hesitate. I like that."

I nodded. "And you're a berserker. You thrive in chaos."

Erik smirked. "I am chaos."

Freya muttered, "Great. Another reckless idiot."

I extended my hand. "Glad to have you."

Erik clasped my forearm with enough force to nearly dislocate my shoulder. "We shall make legends of our victories!"

---

Third Recruit – Ingrid the Silent (Shieldmaiden, Expert Tactician)

A raven-haired woman in black armor leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching us with calculating eyes. She wasn't drinking or laughing.

She was studying.

Ingrid the Silent.

One of the best tacticians in Valhalla.

I approached. "Ingrid."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I need someone who knows how to win battles before they start."

She smirked. "You mean, you need someone to clean up after you?"

I smirked back. "Let's call it strategic support."

Ingrid looked me over, then tilted her head toward Erik and Freya. "You already have a berserker and a Valkyrie. That means you need someone to plan ahead, not just swing wildly and hope for the best."

I spread my hands. "Exactly."

She sighed, then nodded. "Alright, I'm in. But don't expect me to follow blindly. If I see a smarter way to win, I'm taking it."

I grinned. "That's what I want."

She pushed off the pillar, giving me a nod. "Then let's make sure we don't die stupidly."

---

Fourth Recruit – Khaled (Half-Egyptian, sent by Anubis)

From across the hall, a tall, dark-skinned warrior with Egyptian tattoos on his arms stepped forward. His movements were smooth, calculated. He had the aura of a predator.

"Orion."

I raised an eyebrow. "Khaled."

He nodded. "I was told by Anubis that I should assist you."

That caught my attention. "Anubis?"

Khaled's expression didn't change. "My father serves Osiris. But with Osiris being… well, sealed and hence the Egyptian underworld being non-functional, I was sent here to train."

That was interesting. A warrior connected to the Egyptian underworld?

"Why did Anubis want you to join me?"

Khaled shrugged. "He didn't say. But he did say you'd need me and you may be a great help for him in the future he saw I think."

I studied him. "You fight with scimitars. Fast strikes, unpredictable movement."

He smirked. "And I don't rely on brute force."

I extended my hand. "Welcome aboard."

Khaled took it, his grip strong but controlled.

---

Fifth Recruit – Darius (Son of Ares, Freya's Boyfriend)

"Eh, why not?"

A Greek warrior leaned against the wall, arms crossed, wearing Spartan-style armor. He had a confident smirk, the kind that usually came with being a son of Ares as I was told by the worrior in front of me.

"You volunteering?" I asked.

Darius shrugged. "My girlfriend is a Valkyrie whom you may know. If I let you die, she'd kill me for not completing the monthly target. So I might as well make sure you live."

I crossed my arms cautious about his intentions. "And who's your girlfriend?"

Darius pointed at Freya.

She smirked. "Me."

I blinked. "Huh. Didn't see that coming."

Darius shrugged. "I'm a son of Ares. Fighting is kinda my thing."

I grinned. "Then let's go cause some chaos."

---

Before we left, Odin pulled me aside.

"Your friends—those you left behind in Midgard—will soon embark on their own trials."

I clenched my fists. Clary, Jace, Simon…

"Are they in danger?"

Odin's gaze hardened. "They will face trials that will shape their future. You cannot interfere, not yet. But in time, your paths will cross again."

I exhaled slowly.

Then Odin's voice lowered.

"Your mother has retreated into a separate realm. Her sorrow consumed her, and she has taken your father with her into a space where even gods dare not tread."

I tensed. "So she's… gone?"

"Not entirely. She left you a way to contact her when she realised you were in Valhalla after borrowing her power."

Odin handed me a simple mobile phone.

I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

He smirked. "A gift from Urania herself. Use it wisely."

I stared at the phone. I wasn't alone. Not really.

---

We gathered near the portal room, preparing to leave.

Freya strapped her Valkyrie sword to her back. "So, what's the plan, fearless leader?"

I exhaled. "We head to Vanaheim first. See what we're dealing with."

Erik grinned. "And then we kill giants."

Ingrid smirked. "Preferably in a way that doesn't get us all killed."

Khaled tilted his head. "I assume this mission isn't just a simple raid."

I nodded. "No. Odin wouldn't send us if it was."

Darius cracked his knuckles. "Then let's go find out what's waiting for us."

I turned toward the portal. My first mission.

I had a team.

Now it was time to prove myself.

"Let's move."

---

Next Chapter: The Journey Begins – Entering Vanaheim.

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