The road leveled out as they approached the edge of Papine, the quiet hum of the town replacing the lonely silence of the hills.
Streetlights flickered overhead.
A few late-night vendors were still packing up. Music drifted faintly from a distant shop. Life was still… normal.
Too normal.
Dante slowed the bicycle slightly. "Alright… if we pass through here, we can cut up the main road and head straight into the mountains. Way faster than going the long way."
Astrid didn't respond.
She was scanning everything.
The people.
The shadows.
The rooftops.
"They are near," she said quietly.
A dog barked.
Then another.
Then suddenly—every dog in the area erupted into chaos.
People began looking around, confused.
"What's wrong with dem tonight?" someone muttered nearby.
A streetlight above them flickered violently—then burst.
Dante flinched. "Yeah… that's not normal."
Astrid's grip tightened on the bicycle frame. "They are testing the boundaries. Hunting."
They pushed deeper into Papine.
The air grew heavier.
Phones glitched in people's hands. A car alarm went off for no reason. A man slapped the side of his radio as it crackled into static.
And then—
Everything went quiet.
No wind.
No voices.
No movement.
Dante slowly stopped pedaling.
"…why does it feel like everybody just… disappeared?"
"They didn't," Astrid said.
Her eyes lifted toward the rooftops.
"They are hiding."
A shape moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Then another.
Three silhouettes landed almost silently on top of a nearby building.
Tall.
Armored.
Watching.
Dante froze. "Tell me those are just… really committed cosplayers."
Astrid stepped off the bicycle.
"are cosplayers the name's of your elite warrior on this planet ?? " she said.
"They have found us."
One of the Einherjar tilted its head.
Then—
It jumped.
Landing in the middle of the street with a thunderous crack that split the pavement.
People screamed from inside nearby buildings.
Doors slammed shut.
Lights went out.
The other two followed, forming a slow circle around them.
"Princess Astrid," one said, its voice echoing unnaturally."You run far… for someone with nowhere to go."
Astrid stepped forward, placing herself between them and Dante.
"You endanger innocents," she said coldly. "That is unlike Hela's usual precision."
The second warrior responded, almost amused.
"Fear spreads faster in populated places."
Dante leaned slightly toward Astrid. "Okay… small suggestion… maybe we don't fight death warriors in the middle of town?"
Astrid's eyes flicked toward the road leading uphill.
He was right.
If they fought here… people would die.
The third warrior raised its weapon.
"Your surrender is preferred."
Astrid's expression hardened.
"You will not have it."
Then, quietly, to Dante—
"When I say run… you ride."
"…you serious right now?
astrid:"Yes!!."
dante:why cant we surrender again i forgot??"
The warrior moved.
Fast.
Astrid grabbed Dante and shoved him back onto the bicycle.
"NOW!"
Dante didn't argue.
He pedaled.
Hard.
Astrid sprinted beside him, faster than any human should be able to move—even stripped of most of her power.
Behind them—
The Einherjar gave chase.
They burst out of Papine, racing toward the winding road that led into the Blue Mountains.
The town lights flickered behind them.
The sounds of chaos faded.
Replaced by something worse.
Silence.
Cold.
Ancient.
Dante's legs screamed as the incline began again. "Please tell me… your magic sword is close…"
Astrid's voice was low.
Focused.
"It is ahead."
The wind shifted.
That same unnatural chill.
The trees grew denser.
The road narrowed.
And faintly—
A red glow pulsed somewhere deeper in the mountains.
Astrid's eyes locked onto it.
"Dainsleif."
Behind them—
Three green lights emerged from the darkness.
Still following.
Still closing.
Dante swallowed hard.
"…we really couldn't just stay home tonight, huh?"
Astrid almost smiled.
"Where would be the honor in that?"