As they arrived in the port town, Nico stared down at the water, his expression dark. "The ocean is dead," he said quietly to John. "Not a single living thing remains."
John raised a brow. "What about zombies?"
"There's hundreds," Nico answered flatly.
John groaned. "Great. Undead mermaids and mermen—and we're about to step onto a submarine."
"Yeah, about that," Nico replied, his gaze still on the sea. "I think I'll move to New Asgard ahead of you all. Tet asked me to ensure the survival of the Asgardians. He told me the Queen was gonna make a move on them soon."
John's tone softened. "Alright. We'll meet up later. Until then, my friend."
Nico smiled faintly before dropping into his shadow and vanishing.
A moment later, Kamala walked up, confusion written all over her face. "Where's Nico going?"
John sighed. "Change of plans. He doesn't like water, so he's gonna shadow-travel there and meet us later."
"Aww," Kamala pouted. "I was having fun talking to him about Italy. Did you know he's from there?"
"He may have mentioned it," John said dryly. "Now come on—they're boarding."
Unseen by anyone, John discreetly staked a marker in the center of the town. As soon as he boarded the massive prison submersible and it sailed away, the marker activated. In a flash of light, every last man, woman, and child in the seaside survivor town vanished—transported to a true safe haven somewhere in the multiverse.
---
Meanwhile, outside the gates of New Asgard
Nico stood before the towering gates, waiting patiently until a voice rang out from above. Valkyrie leaned over the battlements and shouted, "This is the home of the gods! You would do well to leave, child!"
Nico shouted back, "I am Nico di Angelo, and by right, I claim entry!"
Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. "By what right?"
"Right of birth. I am a demigod—the last child of Hades."
That gave Valkyrie pause. She descended from the wall and opened the gate, striding toward him. "Prove it."
Nico lifted his hand, and all the lifeless corpses scattered across the ground suddenly stood, moving once more. He snapped his fingers, and the corpses began to dance grotesquely in unison.
Valkyrie blinked, then gave a grudging nod. "Powerful, disturbing, and creepy. You're a child of Hades, alright. I didn't think the Greeks were still having kids—but then again, you were always the most irresponsible and horny pantheon."
"That's rich," Nico shot back, a faint smirk on his lips. "Coming from someone who spends half their time fighting and the other half drinking."
"Hey!" Valkyrie retorted. "At least we know not to send children off to fight. Seriously, why are you here? You should be with your father."
"I have an offer for all of you."
Valkyrie arched a brow, her lips twitching. "You're what—ten? Alright, I'll humor you." She gestured for him to follow.
Inside, the Asgardians sat listlessly, bored and restless. Nico waved his hand, and from the shadows beside him rose a small mountain of food and drink. The warriors' eyes widened, and they rushed forward with glee, preparing a feast.
"Is this enough," Nico asked evenly, "to allow me an audience with the king?"
Valkyrie frowned. "The king doesn't speak to anyone these days, I'm afraid—"
But before she could finish, Thor's voice boomed from his throne. "Valkyrie, let the boy through!"
Valkyrie blinked in shock but stepped aside. Nico walked forward with measured steps until he stood before Thor.
"Someone bring the boy a chair! And bring us some ale!" Thor commanded.
An Asgardian hurried forward, setting a chair behind Nico, who sat without hesitation. Another brought mugs of ale, which both Thor and Nico downed.
Wiping his beard, Thor leaned forward. "I know what you are. Have you come to claim my soul?"
"No," Nico said calmly. "I've come with an offer from my boss."
"Anyone who could command the likes of you would indeed be powerful enough to make me an offer," Thor rumbled. "What does your boss want?"
"He wants warriors," Nico replied. "He offers you and your people a fight worthy of you—one that will almost assuredly end with your deaths."
Thor's gaze dimmed. "I lost my fight… and I didn't even die in battle."
"Yes," Nico said, eyes sharp. "You lost to a being wielding the primordial power of the universe. You didn't lose to the man himself—you lost to the Stones."
Thor straightened slightly, a spark of life returning to his eyes. "Explain."
"You lost to the Infinity Stones," Nico pressed. "Not to Thanos. Had the two of you been fighting as warriors, who knows who would have won?"
Slow understanding dawned on Thor's face, followed by a slow, toothy grin. "Yes… yes. Without the Stones, the creature would have fallen."
"But," Thor admitted with a sigh, "I am not in peak condition."
Nico placed a hand on Thor's shoulder. Shadows engulfed him, swirling with power. When they receded, Thor was whole again—restored to his prime, his missing eye returned.
Thor flexed his arm, his grin widening. "Ah, that's better! You even gave me back my eye. Now… tell my people what you offer."
Nico waved his hand, and a massive projected screen materialized in the air. On it, everyone saw the city of Uruk, besieged on all sides by demonic beasts and monstrous horrors, its warriors fighting valiantly to hold the tide.
"They are in real trouble," Valkyrie murmured, her usual swagger gone.
"Right now," Nico said, "Uruk is under siege by demonic beasts—and three goddesses."
"Which three?" Thor asked sharply.
"Gorgon, Ereshkigal, and Quetzalcóatl."
Thor frowned. "Um… are you sure about that last one? Last I remember, Quetzalcóatl is a man."
"Not in that universe," Nico replied simply.
Thor chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah—multiversal shenanigans. That makes sense."
"Uruk is being defended by its own people," Nico continued, "Greek gods, Japanese and Greek warriors, and even the wizard Merlin."
Thor slammed his mug down and roared, "But not a single Asgardian is in the fray! I feel like we've more than earned an invitation to this war, don't you, my people?!"
"YEAHHHHH!" the hall erupted with cheers.
"Then prepare yourselves!" Thor bellowed. "Tonight, we feast! Tomorrow, we go to war!"
The Asgardians let out mighty roars that shook the hall.
Valkyrie glanced at Nico, smiling despite herself. "I'm so glad I let you in."
"Honestly," Nico said with a shrug, "I could've gotten in anyway. I just didn't want to be rude."
Valkyrie frowned, then suddenly grabbed him in a headlock and gave him a noogie.
Thor took in the sight with wide eyes. "Please don't kill Valkyrie."
"Do I look like one of my uncles?" Nico deadpanned. "I'm not gonna smite someone for that. I'll just prank her when she least suspects it."
Thor burst out laughing and rose to join the feast.
---
Meanwhile, back on the Raft
John sat in one of the cells, leaning back with a look of practiced ease while Kamala and the rest of the group chatted animatedly with Shang-Chi and his companions.
A distant thud made him raise an eyebrow — the undead mermen were battering the outer walls of the raft, desperate to get in. He muttered in irritation, "Enough. I'm trying to sleep here."
With that, he projected his aura outward in a sudden, powerful burst. The shockwave rolled across miles of open sea, slamming into every hostile force in range. The living enemies were knocked unconscious; the zombies were destroyed outright. Thanks to that single, overwhelming pulse from John, his group was able to make landfall without incident.
They walked into New Asgard and found it eerily empty — the hallways silent, the mead cups toppled, the recent revelry still visible but abandoned. Only Nico sat at a table with his feet propped up, unfazed.
Kamala looked around, worried. "Where are all the Asgardians?"
Nico shrugged, calm. "The place was empty when I got here. They must have left."
Riri sniffed the air and said, "Really? Because it looks like a party happened here — like, less than a few hours ago."
Nico tilted his head. "Couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but the ship you're looking for is down below."
Kamala brightened. "That's great. Let's go."
Nico waved them off. "You guys can go. I ain't going to space."
John slid into the seat beside Nico and added dryly, "Same. Go on ahead. We'll see you when you get back."
Kamala, Kate, Riri, Yelena, Melina, the Widows, Blade, Alexei and Shang Chi's Group all left for the ship while John and Nico stayed behind to wait.(Author's Note:Way to many names)
John asked quietly, "How far off is she?"
Nico watched the horizon, expression unreadable. "Not far. I've been delaying her with shadow magic, but once all of them take off I'll let her through. We taking her out?"
John's voice went flat and decisive. "Depends. Do you need the dead gathered in one place so we can kill them all?"
Nico smirked. "Kind of — but not really. Gathering up all the survivors is the issue."
John's answer was blunt and cold. "Then let's kill her now. Fewer problems later."
Nico's smirk widened into an eager grin. "Finally. I was getting bored."