The stars above Hogwarts pulsed strangely that night.
They didn't twinkle.
They watched.
Aarav stood atop the Astronomy Tower, the air still crackling from his clash with Omega Aarav. Every magical sensor he possessed was lit up in crimson.
A portal had opened.
Far beyond Earth.
And something was stepping through.
A streak of rainbow fire split the sky.
A soundless crack echoed across the school as the Bifrost Bridge touched ground—right on the Quidditch pitch.
Out of it stepped a tall, silver-haired figure with eyes like shards of crystal stars.
Clad in starlit Asgardian armor, he bore a spear etched with runes of fate and light.
"I am Aemion Heimsson, Eye of Asgard," he announced.
"Son of Heimdall, Watcher of Realms. And you—"
He pointed the spear at Aarav, who had descended to the field.
"—have committed divine infraction."
"By invoking multiversal fusion spells," Aemion continued, "you have pierced the Veil of Yggdrasil.
You have bent time. Bound Death. Crossed into power not meant for mortals.
Under Asgardian Law, you are to be challenged. Here. Now."
Aarav said nothing at first.
Then:
"Trial by divine combat?"
"Under starlight. In witness of magic and might."
"Accepted."
The sky dimmed.
The stars formed a ring.
Time slowed around the field.
Spectators—students, ghosts, even portraits—were unable to enter. This was not a human fight.
Aarav's System flared.
Trial Engaged: Duel Under the Nine Stars
Opponent: Aemion Heimsson (Divine Rank - Lesser Celestial)
Rewards:
• Asgardian Recognition
• Key to Realm Gate: Yggdrasil's Root
• Starforged Rune Set
• ???
Restrictions: No Death's Crown abilities
Aarav opened with Runic Blink and Spellweave Barrage, sending 13 hexes spiraling through folded space.
Aemion twirled his spear once—all 13 spells struck a mirrored fate rune and collapsed.
"My father sees all things," he said. "Including the future of your strikes."
Aarav grinned. "Then let me strike with the past."
He rewound himself 5 seconds and cast the same spell—but inverted the runes.
This time, two hexes hit.
Aemion roared and summoned a star-shard from the sky. It crashed like a meteor.
Aarav called upon Convergence Binding, fusing Protego Maxima and Marvelian Barrier Protocol 7A.
The star split around him—but barely.
Both combatants now glowed with raw power.
Aemion: "You're no god, Aarav Gaunt. Just a clever boy."
Aarav: "And yet you're bleeding."
Their final spells collided.
Aemion unleashed Stellar Lance—a line of condensed solar fury.
Aarav responded with Chrono-Fissure, fusing Time Shard energy with elemental fracture logic.
A silence followed.
Then—
Aemion dropped to one knee.
"You fought not as a thief," Aemion said, breathless,
"but as one worthy of divine burden. I yield."
The stars brightened, then winked away.
A rune-engraved key dropped from Aemion's palm.
"This opens a path. To the World Tree's Root. Where fate itself grows."
System Update:
Trial Complete – Duel Under Nine Stars
Victory: Aarav
New Title: Star-Marked
Realm Access Gained: Yggdrasil's Root – Entry to Upper Marvelian Dimensions
Reward: Starforged Rune Set (Armor Upgrade Available)
Trait Gained: Astral Endurance – Increased resistance to divine magic
From his tower, Dumbledore sipped tea.
"The boy just challenged Asgard," he muttered.
"And won. Merlin help us… he's only just begun."