Chapter 5: Zerschlagen

ODIN’S POV

From the look of it, the endeavor appears fruitful. A fresh soul hath found its way into the headless frame. But mere functionality doth not assure mastery over the vessel. A test is warranted to discern if this venture be not in vain.

"Ho there, spirit! What knowledge hath--"

Nay, his name would escape him, for I've bound his memories.

"You still haven't told me what's going on?! Am I supposed to fight?" The headless creature's voice trembles with fear, its terror palpable as it grapples with the uncertainty of its situation.

"So far, I'm not impressed by its feeble demeanor and spirit. If 'tis a female soul I've summoned, then it may explain much. Yet, I'll put my trust in the body it inhabits, for that vessel is renowned for its ferocity and chaos.

"Magni! Modi! Slay him!" I bellow forth the command, letting loose the hounds of war upon my unsuspecting quarry.

“Kill?! Huh! What did I do?! Am I a criminal? Is that’s why I’m in-”

Before the headless creature could utter another word, Magni, with a thunderous stride that seemed to defy mortal bounds, appeared behind the hapless soul. His mighty broadsword, ablaze with crackling blue energy, poised for the strike.

"Ha! Away with thee, wretched spirit!" Magni's booming voice resounded, a grin tugging at his lips as he inadvertently revealed his ambush.

“AHHHHHHH!!!”

"Sköll!" I growl under my breath, irritation simmering within me as the headless creature's incessant wails pierce the air. Though it managed to evade Magni's blow, it seemed more a flinch than a deliberate dodge, but the creature was still blown away due to the momentum swing of Magni sending him flying.

"NOW IT'S MY TURN!" roared Modi, his voice resonating like the clash of thunder, as he hurtled towards the headless figure. With a giant mace and shield crackling with blue static, he charged, the wind gust carrying the hapless soul directly into his path.

"Why are you hurting me?!" cries the headless creature in fear, its voice trembling with desperation.

"By the gods!" I roar in frustration, watching as the headless creature makes no effort to defend itself, merely absorbing Modi's blow with a pitiful cry of agony, before being launched into the sky.

"This is shameful! Have I expended my might to summon a soul incapable of even the most basic defense?" I lament, my disappointment heavy upon me.

"Magni, Modi, end this with 'Zerschlagen'!" I command, my voice heavy with resignation.

"Aye, sir!" both Magni and Modi respond in unison, their determination unwavering as they prepare for the final assault.

As the headless creature descends, I can't help but hope for some semblance of resistance, though the odds seem slim.

With impeccable timing, Magni and Modi unleash their combined power, conjuring a thunderous ball that electrifies the very air around us. The explosive force shakes the ground, sending smoke and debris swirling into the sky.

"FORWARD!" my grandsons cry out, propelling the destructive sphere as they slammed their weapons towards it, aiming for the falling figure with all their might. The balls of thunder hurtle toward their target at breakneck speed, engulfing it in a brilliant explosion of blue electricity.

The headless creature's anguished screams pierce the air as the dust settles, revealing its charred and smoldering form lying motionless upon the ground, its armor and flesh seared by the intense heat.

"Ha! Did you witness that? Grandfather made quite the fuss over this creature, yet here it lies, defeated beneath our might," Magni boasts, his tone brimming with confidence.

"Indeed! Haha! Perhaps you should challenge me next, brother," Modi chimes in, his laughter echoing through the air.

"A challenge, eh? I wouldn't mind making it a clean sweep, 100 victories to my name," Magni retorts, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What?! It's 100 victories for me!" Modi counters, their banter escalating into a playful argument.

As my grandsons continue their jovial exchange, I catch a faint sound in the distance, a high-pitched noise barely audible over their chatter.

"Hold your tongues!" I command, silencing their bickering as I strain to locate the source of the sound.

Following the faint noise, my gaze falls upon the body of the headless creature.

This sound... could it be? Is he... crying?

"Why-i-is th-this h-ha-happening to me?" The headless creature's voice quivers, stuttering through the words. "I don't even know what's going on. I don't even know why I'm here. But you guys won't tell me, just begin to beat me up."

He's truly shedding tears? By the gods, what madness is this? I had hoped he'd grow accustomed to his fate, but he seems to grow weaker with each passing moment. Have I erred in summoning him here? Me, a deity? Can such a being even make mistakes? The uncertainty gnaws at my mind like a relentless wolf, questioning my very essence.

"Pffft! Hahaha! Look at him, crying like a babe!" Magni's laughter reverberates through the air.

"Hahaha! How can we even tell he's crying? The creature hasn't even got a head!" Modi joins in, his amusement mirroring his brother's.

"We don't need to see tears to know he's blubbering! Just listen to his feeble whimpers!" Magni's laughter intensifies, his mockery ringing loud.

"Hahahaha! Stop being a weakling! It's unmanly to weep! Stand tall and face your fate like a true warrior!" Modi chimes in, his tone mocking.

The headless creature struggles to rise, its trembling knees betraying its fear. Magni and Modi's laughter only grows louder at the sight, their amusement seemingly boundless.

"Please, guys... No more," the headless creature stammers, its voice quivering with desperation. "I haven't done anything wrong, but I'm so sorry if I did. I just want to go home."

Did the headless creature just mention home? Is he regaining his memories? That's impossible! I sealed them away, or so I thought. Have I made another mistake? Sweat began to drip from my black feathers, a revelation unsettling as the shifting tides. To think that even birds could sweat! Such a notion unsettles the very fabric of my understanding.

"Home? Where do you call home?" Magni inquires.

“Ho-home? I-I don’t know but I’m just scared and just wanna go home.”

I sighed in relief, reassured that it wasn't another mistake.

"Well, this is home, I suppose. In fact, this place is all there is. I know no other place beyond this, right, Magni?" Modi remarked.

"Aye, that's the truth. This place provides all we need," Magni affirmed.

“The-then why would you call this place a prison?” the headless creature asked.

Magni and Modi pondered with hands upon their chins, exchanging glances.

"I don't know why we thought this place was a prison," mused Magni.

"Well, I thought so because you said it first, Magni," replied Modi.

"What?! I never uttered such nonsense, you fat, ugly pig!" Magni snapped.

"What did you say?! You want a brawl?" Modi retorted.

Ah, good! The realm isn't affecting the headless creature, at least that part of my plan succeeded.

"Anyway, grandfather commanded us to end you, so we shall," declared Magni.

“Kill me? So I’m going to die? But I just got here and now I’m gonna die?”

"Ja," Modi said solemnly.

Suddenly, the headless creature dropped to its knees, performing a shameful display as it begged for its life.

"Please, I beg of you! Don't take my life! I don't remember anything I've done, but if I've wronged you in any way, please forgive me! I don't want to die! I can't bear the thought of leaving this world without any memories to hold onto!" The headless creature's plea is filled with desperation and raw emotion, its voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.

Honestly, when I commanded my idiot grandsons to end him, it was merely to goad the headless creature into revealing his true capabilities. Yet, I never anticipated such profound disappointment. I've exhausted much of my power for this endeavor, trapped in this form until my strength returns. If I were capable, I would send his soul back and seek another, but alas, I cannot.

And what if I err again? A true deity cannot afford such mistakes.

Nevertheless, I cannot allow these fools to end him. It would be a true waste.

Before I could intercede, Magni and Modi unleashed another 'Zerschlagen', hurtling towards the headless creature with deadly intent.

"Damn it! At the very least, dodge or flee from the onslaught, you fool!" I bellowed in frustration.

"NOOOOOO! PLEASE, SOMEONE, ANYONE, HELP ME!" the headless creature's desperate cry echoes through the air, its terror rendering its knees frozen in fear.

Suddenly, a black gallant horse charges onto the scene, leaping in front of the headless creature with astonishing speed. With a swift motion, it maneuvers its body to shield the creature from Magni and Modi's attack, unleashing a powerful kick that sends 'Zerschlagen' hurtling away, engulfing the area in a massive explosion and sending water cascading through the air, creating a rain in the sky.

"Where in heavens name did that horse come from?!" Magni bellows in disbelief.

"Hey! You headless oddity! You never mentioned you had a horse! Where were you hiding that beast?!" Modi adds, his voice tinged with annoyance.

I am astonished. That soul was able to summon such a creature? There is still hope; my plans may yet come to fruition! Perhaps he is not as useless as I had thought, if he possesses the ability to summon such a horse. However, it appears the headless creature has not even noticed the horse's presence, as he cowers on the ground, trembling in fear.

"I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die," the headless creature repeats in a steady, desperate chant, the words flowing from its lips like a solemn prayer.

The horse began to draw near the headless creature, its movements cautious yet curious. It sniffed around the figure, prompting the creature to finally raise its gaze from the ground, its cowering stance slowly shifting. As realization dawned upon it, the headless creature noticed that it remained unharmed by the attack, and before it stood the horse once more.

“Huh? I-I'm not hurt? I’m not dead?” the headless creautre said in shock.

“Thanks to that horse.” Magni said.

"Thanks to who--" the headless creature started, interrupting itself as it rose to its feet, tentatively reaching out to touch the horse before it.

“Wait, was it you that saved me? Thank you-”

As the headless creature reached out, mere inches from touching the horse, it suddenly pulled back with hostility, withdrawing from its grasp as if rejecting it’s touch.

"Huh? Are you shy?" the headless creature murmured, extending its hand again as the horse cautiously approached. "No need to be shy, I won't bite," it nervously chuckled, trying to reassure the wary beast.

"Aye, did ya see that beast's might? By Thor's hammer, that horse be a true warrior!" Magni declared, eyes gleaming with admiration.

"Aye, brother, I reckon it could toss ya further than it did that headless wretch!" Modi chortled, slapping his brother on the back.

But in truth, methinks the horse ain't daft. It sensed somethin' amiss about that headless body, not recognizin' it as its true master. It's got the eyes of a hawk, that one, seein' through the guise of the soul within.

The horse, with a grace of a serpent, sidled to the riverbank, layin' itself down, eyelids droopin' as if to rest.

Yet, lo and behold, the clatter of stones as the headless fiend rose once more.

"Ha! Still yearnin' for a brawl, are ya?" Magni taunted, voice laced with the thrill of battle.

"Why did you attack me?" the headless creature groaned, the words punctuated by grunts of pain. "Didn't you come to help me?"

The horse, still reclined, turned its head away from the headless creature, brushing it gently against the ground as if to shun the sight of the injured figure.

“I see. So nobody cares about me. Fine.”

Words comin' from the headless knight. Yet he pulls out a fightin' stance, though 'tis clear as day he's still gripped by terror, his body shiverin' like leaves in the wind.