Chapter 159: The Void Arrives
Thor's boots pounded against the cold metal floor, echoing like thunder in the abandoned halls of the alien facility. Even though he had put considerable distance between himself and the tremors, they still rattled through his bones, a relentless reminder of the chaos brewing in his wake.
He could feel it—the prickling sensation of unease tightening around him like a shroud. The logical part of him knew he should stay by Axel's side; after all, any battle alongside the powerful warrior was a thrill he yearned for. Yet, Loki's instructions remained firm in his mind, and he trusted his brother's strategy above his own desires. So, with growing impatience gnawing at him, he charged down another hallway.
"Where the hell are they hiding?" he muttered, frustration seeping through his teeth as he scanned every corner, every shadow. Strangely, not a single alien had crossed his path. It was as though they'd vanished from the facility altogether, abandoning their posts in a silence that was almost eerie.
Just as he began to doubt the sensibility of his mission, a faint sound caught his attention. Voices—faint murmurs coming from a room up ahead. Thor slowed, his muscles tensed as he approached the door, pressing an ear against its surface. He couldn't understand their ancient tongue, but the raised voices, the frantic tones—there was panic in them. An argument, no doubt, laced with desperation. They were as unsettled as he was.
Without hesitation, he kicked the door open, his presence casting an authoritative shadow over the alien control room. The argument ceased, and all eyes turned to him, wide and apprehensive.
"What the hell are you arguing about?" he barked, his voice rough and commanding. "I need you to contact Midgard immediately and report this attack!"
One of the aliens—a wiry, gray-skinned figure with hollow eyes—stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. "Forgive us, my Lord. There… there's a problem… something that also concerns the intruder."
Thor's patience wore thin, and he glared, his fingers twitching at the hilt of his hammer. "Get to the point before I lose it!" he growled, and the alien recoiled, hastily nodding to the others.
With a quick exchange of glances, they started typing frantically on the bizarre control panels, strange symbols flashing across the screens. After a few agonizing moments, the screen displayed a live feed—a video that caused Thor's jaw to clench.
On the monitor, a dark shape loomed over the distant horizon of the planet. His gut twisted. It was unmistakable. A Voidwalker—a being feared for its ruthless, soulless destruction—was headed straight for them.
"Shit," Thor hissed, his heart pounding. He didn't wait for further explanations. "Contact Midgard. Then prepare to evacuate this planet."
Without looking back, he sprinted from the control room, moving with a speed that even he hadn't known he could muster. His mind raced, his thoughts spiraling into a frenzy of panic and calculation.
'If that's really what I saw… then a Voidwalker is coming here. Why? Could it be… because of Haze?'
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**Meanwhile, in the heart of the facility:**
Haze dropped to her knees, gasping as her head throbbed from the impact. Titan had slammed her down with brutal force, and her vision blurred as blood trickled from a gash on her temple. Her entire body trembled from the shockwaves of pain surging through her. Her face contorted in a mixture of anger and disbelief as she looked up at the three alien generals who hovered above her, their eyes filled with sadistic satisfaction.
"You… you shouldn't be this strong…" she managed to croak, hatred seething in her voice.
Axel stepped forward, watching her with an unreadable expression. Not a single scratch marked his skin, his demeanor composed and unsettling. The sight of him made her seethe, a bitter taste filling her mouth as she remembered their last encounter on Earth. Back then, she'd been certain of her superiority, confident she could crush him. But here he was, like a phantom resurrected, his powers inexplicably multiplied. It defied everything she thought she knew.
"Hold your fire," Axel ordered, raising a hand to halt his soldiers. "There's no need to kill her… not yet."
Haze spat blood onto the floor, her lips twisting into a smirk. "Oh? Are you scared, Axel?" she sneered, attempting to mask her fear behind a facade of bravado.
Axel's gaze hardened, unamused. "Not scared—just not stupid. Killing you without extracting proper intel would be… inefficient."
Haze stifled a laugh, her head pounding with pain. "Then what do you want to know?"
"Who or what do you serve?"
For a moment, Haze stared at him, her gaze a fiery mix of resentment and reluctance. Eventually, she spoke, her voice laced with bitterness. "My father."
"Who the hell is your father?" Josh cut in, his voice cold and sharp as he stepped up beside Axel. Continue your journey with empire
"What do you care?" she replied, her eyes glinting with defiance.
Mane moved forward, grabbing her hair and jerking her head back violently, forcing a whimper of pain from her. "I suggest you use your words carefully. I might not be able to torture you in front of Trisha, but my generals have no such restraint."
Haze coughed, barely managing to stay upright as her hands pressed against the floor for support. She took a shaky breath. "Fine," she said finally, her tone dripping with contempt. "My father… is a Titan—a god wronged by the very gods you worship. He plans to restart this world, to rebuild it in his image, purged of its flaws."
Her words were like venom, biting and scornful. Axel exchanged a glance with his generals, their expressions a mixture of confusion and unease.
"Go on," Trisha said softly, stepping forward and taking Axel's hand, a silent gesture of strength that even Haze couldn't ignore.
Haze's smile widened, transforming into something deranged, almost gleeful. "You want to know more? Fine. I'll tell you. I lead the Void's influence on Earth. I command an army of Voidwalkers—a thousand of them, each more ruthless than the last. We've been pulling the strings behind every major conflict, every war that's ravaged your world. You see, I'm not just some random villain… I'm N.O.E.L."
The room seemed to grow colder, her revelation sinking into the minds of her captors.
"What?" Loki's voice was barely a whisper, his face contorted in a mix of rage and disbelief. "You're… the reason our parents were killed?"
Haze's gaze settled on Loki, and her smile twisted into something grotesque, taunting. "Why, of course. I did it for fun, for the thrill of seeing gods reduced to ashes. Your happy little family—boring, predictable… I thought you would be more interesting with a bit of trauma."
Loki's fists clenched, his knuckles white as he trembled. "You… you twisted monster. We've been chasing each other, playing each other's games, stalling and plotting… but why? Who are you calling here, Haze?"
Haze's laughter filled the room, her eyes glinting with a sinister light. "Ah, now you're finally catching on. My Voidwalker army should be just about here now."
Her words fell like a hammer, crushing the last remnants of their calm. They had underestimated her reach. The realization settled heavily on each of them, filling the air with tension as Haze grinned in satisfaction, reveling in the horror she had unleashed.