Jotunheim is a world of ice giants, where the only constants were darkness, stone and ice. A man was moving through this icy wasteland on a sled. Everything was strange in this situation, in a world where people had never been, a man appeared. In a world where the temperature was so low that nothing could grow, he felt at ease. The sled he was riding on moved without any animal, as if following the will of its owner.
Through the snowstorm and icy whirlwinds, the man on the sled moved forward confidently. He knew that Jotunheim was not just a world of ice giants, but also a place full of ancient secrets and dangers. - "at least Thor gave a good description of this world while telling about the battle with the Jotuns."
The sleds creaked through the snow, leaving tracks that were quickly covered by the falling snow. The wind howled around, as if warning the intruder that his presence was not welcome here. But he was not going to retreat. He had a goal - to find a way out of this icy world.
He had been heading towards his goal for several hours. The only source of light that was visible to the horizon. The light from which water flowed in a continuous stream.
****
A few days earlier:
****
Recently, Internet broadcasts have begun to develop. And now the administrator of one of the leading video streaming services noticed a strange influx of people, which was unusual for this time in San Francisco. Taking it simply for unscheduled actions of his clients, he continued his work. But after thirty minutes he had to return to this problem again, considering that the growth of users was increasing very sharply. Having started to check what was happening, he could not believe what he saw.
"The Avenger is streaming" - this kind of thought made him drop everything he was doing and take care of this issue.
Literally in an hour of the stream, the number of current views increased by hundreds of thousands every couple of minutes.
The avenger himself, not paying attention to anything, simply played one of the popular newly released games.
Even the fact that he constantly spoke Russian did not stop people from all over the world from connecting to be closer to the hero.
Of course, it couldn't go on like that for long; the servers weren't designed for such a load and simply shut down from overvoltage.
Having raised his superiors, this administrator began to try to correct the situation.
Literally 10 minutes after the failure, more than ten thousand complaints arrived in the company's mail. The employees themselves quickly tried to restore access to their service.
When they finally managed to restore the service. The man for whom many decided to change their plans and log in was no longer online. In place of his channel was a letter apologizing for such a sudden departure and promising to post about his next inclusion in advance, so that everyone who wanted could prepare. Literally in a week, the channel with just one broadcast earned more than ten million subscribers.
****
For a long time now, a whole complex of buildings has been under construction in the small town where the Russian superhero settled. They should soon be delivered to the customer.
Three expensive cars drove up to the entrance of one of them. Several tall, healthy men got out of the outer cars and began to take positions that only they understood. The hero of the occasion himself came out of the central one, giving his hand, followed by a tall, beautiful blonde dressed in a business suit that highlighted her feminine qualities, and together they headed towards the entrance.
- Good afternoon – the manager of these facilities was very excited – I want to say right away that everything is going…
- Dmitry Mikhalych. It is possible to do this - having received a nod, Alex began to calm down - say hello to Anna Sycheva, she will be in charge here. - the look of cold blue eyes made it clear to the builder that this was not just a girl for escort.
I want to say right away, the superhero continued peacefully, I am not here to accept the object. I am just here to inspect it and give a short tour. Other people will arrive here for a thorough inspection and you need to prepare for them. If you don't mind, we will just take a look around in person for now.
- Of course - the builder walked away from his customer and his companion - if you need anything, I'll be nearby.
Having gone a little further, they began to examine the premises. Somewhere, builders were working.
- I can't believe you're not lying to me - the woman began, looking around another room. - Of course, you said you wanted to do something grand, but I didn't expect it to be a hospital.
- Me too - looking from the woman to the room he continued - I didn't know what exactly it would be, but it will definitely be related to medicine. In short, many operations that are online with me will be performed here. I have no desire to travel around the world, so everyone will be brought here, there is a whole complex of buildings that service the hospital. Several buildings for staff accommodation, warehouses. It will be more like a small town. My laboratory is not far from here, which I will expand over time.
- You've thought through a lot - the interlocutor was impressed by such scope - but where do you get the money for all this?
- Sometimes it's good to be a monopolist - the grin on his face brought the same grin on her face - Well, if we're being more serious. Money from all over the world is now coming into the fund that's opened in my name. Both from debtors and from people who want to get help from me.
- When you are the only one who can offer this kind of service, then it is expected. - His satisfied face began to irritate her too much - but why am I here?
- You will be in charge of everything here, I am not an expert in management, but we need to make sure that the hospital works, people are brought in and taken away, and there is a lot of other things connected with this, I think you know better.
- It will cost a lot.
- How can I help my friend? - a skeptically raised eyebrow showed her assessment of everything that was happening. - Well, of course, a good fee.
After the last phrase, a smile appeared on her face: "Because of our good relationship, I'm here, but I won't do anything for free."
- I know. You're here because you can sell. I'll find a way to spend the money that comes to us, I need it to bring in profit.
Anna looked forward to the rain of money as she imagined the scope of opportunities that working with such a person would provide. "I hope you won't limit yourself to just the hospital."
- Of course not – Alex himself was looking out the window, thinking about something – of course, everything depends on many factors, but if everything goes according to plan, then in ten years we will have a corporation that will be impossible not to reckon with.
- That's good. - Her insistence on having more money scared many people - and what about the local authorities, won't there be problems with them?
- It shouldn't. I specifically chose a place away from the capital so that I could do my business without anyone interfering. And as soon as the locals imagined how much money they would get from taxes, they immediately became cute.
- They will steal it. Of course, I like to have a lot of zeros in my accounts, but definitely not in such ways. So much money at once, they won't be able to hold on.
- That's exactly why you're here, to earn money. And don't worry about them, I hope they do something stupid. Then I'll be able to put my people in...
- Who will do whatever we tell them to do.
- I'm so glad we understand each other - at that moment they entered one of the rooms on the top floor. - Well, this will be your office for the near future. - If you need to change anything, tell Mikhalych.
The room was just an empty white box. As Alex watched his companion inspect and imagine the future office, a text message came to his phone.
"Very interesting," he concluded on the information he had received. "As much as it would be nice for me to talk to you, I have some important business to attend to."
- The hero is going to save the world? - the tone of the question was more sarcastic.
- I don't know yet, but if what I see is true, it will be very interesting – in the footage that was taken on the phone, it was visible how people took a step to the side and disappeared from the screen – "I doubt that they would have sent me something like that if it was just editing."
- Gather a team and look for specialists. - He gave his last order as he left.
- Don't tell a scientist what to do - the answer only confirmed that he had chosen the right candidate.
****
Foggy Albion did not greet its guests any differently. The sky above London was covered with grey clouds, and a fine rain, like tears, fell on the pavements.
Driving around the city in his car, Alex tried to figure out what was going on.
- "Incomprehensible ruptures, cars simply lose their weight, people film them on cameras as they simply disappear, on some they return, on others they don't." - the video sequence shifted to the bright rays that were in the city - "Most likely it was Thor, if you believe the news about a man in a red cloak and a hammer in his hands."
The car Alex was driving was followed by a discreet black SUV. "They're definitely agents, they've been following me since I landed."
The car was moving to one of the city police stations where there were the witnesses he needed.
Having got out near the entrance and having released the car, the Avenger did not hurry to go in, it was worth waiting for the pursuers. The agents did not keep us waiting long.
- Good afternoon, Mr. Ledov. My name is Agent Green. Can I talk to you? - the pretty woman greeted.
- Good afternoon, how can I help you?
"I would like to know what brought such a famous person to our country," she began the conversation in English without even trying to speak Russian.
- Are you interested in this? Or your management? - trying not to create unnecessary conflicts, he continued the conversation in her language.
- My boss - the irritation was clearly visible in her eyes. - You still haven't answered.
- Agent Green, what can you tell me about the portals and people disappearing over the last few days? - Her expression was laughable - I thought so. There are people I need in this building, they may be important witnesses and know something
- If they are arrested, then you cannot take them.
- So you will take them for me.
- And why should I do this?
- Look, when all the agents turned their gaze to the sky, they saw a flock of birds simply disappear in flight.
- Where did they go? Did you do something? ANSWER - the agents' guns were pointed at the avenger. In response to their actions, he simply raised an eyebrow.
- I'm here to sort this out. So either help me or don't interfere.
Green thought for a few dozen seconds and then began to put away the gun. At that very moment, a flock of birds that had disappeared without a trace began to appear right from the wall and frighten passersby.
- I'll help, who do you need? - what he saw made the agent understand that they couldn't figure this out on their own.
A few hours later, three people were sitting at a table in a cafe near the police station. Alex, along with Darcy and Ian, the latter two were connected by their work for the scientist Jane Foster, well-known in narrow circles.
- Let me see if I understood you correctly. The three of you were investigating these anomalies, then Jane disappeared, and when she returned she started throwing red energy, scattering the police, at that moment Thor appeared and took her.
- In short, yes - Jane's pretty assistant was glad to be taken away from the police station. And the fact that it was the avenger who did it only spurred her on to be more useful.
Agent Green, who returned after calling her superiors, finished the minute of reflection.
"So what did they say?" another assistant asked the agent, afraid that she would be told to return them back.
After looking sternly at the guy, the agent finally decided to answer, but the answer was not for him - I was told to provide you with maximum assistance and any resources
- Of course. People are disappearing in their capital, and they can't find an answer, and then I show up, looking so handsome - only a pleased Darcy smiled at his phrase. - Let's start with you bringing Doctor Selvig here and you'll all help him with everything he needs.
- Dr. Selvig is currently under arrest for vandalism...
- It doesn't matter, he definitely knows something about all this. Darcy, I need everything you've got on this phenomenon.
- Yes, of course, I will now.
- Didn't Dr. Foster forbid us from spreading...
- Ian - the young man turned to his boss - shut up, adults are talking now.
The satisfied woman immediately returned to the previous topic: "Doctor Ledov, just tell me and I will do whatever you say…"
- First, pass on the data, and then we can talk about the rest - the others just rolled their eyes at their smiles.
****
Now the group stood where it all began, near the old buildings. The area was fenced off. There were police officers around, Darcy was cursing at the fact that some idiots could break the equipment.
BOOM - All people stopped their activities when a boulder fell on one of the cars. People began to panic and disperse. The elders tried to restore order.
Only one person looked at this calmly and with interest.
Approaching the boulder, he touched it and felt the cold from the stone.
- And how big can it grow? - Agent Green carefully approached Alex, examining the boulder.
- If we are lucky, these phenomena will pass by themselves after some time.
- And if you're unlucky?
- Then it would be better to start evacuating the city. - Such a statement did not add confidence to the agent of the English secret services.
- What will you do?
We need to understand what is on the other side, maybe there is an answer there.
No no no, it's dangerous, if something happens to you here while I'm around it would be a disaster. I don't want to be jailed.
- Don't worry Agent Green, I'm just going on a five minute there and back adventure.
- Then it's better…
- No, this stone is very cold, which means the temperature on the other side is very low, and you don't have the right equipment.
- So you have it? - The skeptical agent couldn't let things get out of control.
Her question was not answered. All the water in the area began to move towards its master like snakes swimming on the grass. The water climbed higher and higher, enveloping the entire body like a suit. When the process was over, Alex felt like he was in a small air bubble.
- This is certainly not Tony Stark's suit, but if it's that bad there, I can stay there long enough to assess the situation.
- I do not give permission for this.
"I'm not asking," he took a few steps and disappeared from everyone's sight.
****
Having entered this anomaly. It became clear that it was impossible to take anyone with us now. Anyone who entered would not survive even a couple of minutes, and there was no suitable equipment at the moment.
Having looked at himself and found no damage to his water armor, the adventurer looked around - ice and stone, well, not much - there was no answer, but no one was expecting one.
After walking around the area and examining the surroundings, Alex decided to return back to the rift, but there was nothing in its place.
- **** ***** you're ***** kidding me ****** - as if hearing his "indignation" the ice nearby began to crack.
Having released all the negativity from the current situation, the water lord began to look for a way out. Once again he walked around the area hoping that when one rift closed, another one could appear nearby.
There was no miracle, there was no rift nearby. But all these actions attracted the attention of the inhabitants of this world.
The Jotuns are ice giants who have called this world their home for millennia.
Three-meter ice giants, with blue skin and red eyes, who were watching their guest. Several of these giants came out of
their hiding place and quietly looked at their guest.
Trying to figure out where to go next, he climbed a small ice cliff. Having looked around and not finding anything remarkable, he continued to peer into the distance.
At that moment the attack began. One of these giants turned his hand into an ice blade and rushed at the traveler.
While Alex stood with his back to them, he felt an unfriendly gaze on himself and was able to prepare several ice shards, one of which he sent straight into the attacker's chest.
The splinter hit the jotun's chest, throwing him back and getting stuck in him.
The smile of victory left the face of the water lord when the jotun with the ice shard pierced his chest began to rise. He immediately sent a second shard, but this time aiming for the head, but the jotun blocked this shard with his frozen hand.
While this skirmish was taking place, the other jotuns were watching it and did not quite understand what to do, because they had never seen anyone who could control the ice besides them.
A cry of rage from the wounded jotun prompted the others to begin attacking the otherworlder.
Realizing that things were going badly, Alex rushed down from the other side of the cliff to create some distance between them. As he descended, he tried to gather the water mass around him, but the ice underneath him did not want to change its state, so he had to tear out a whole piece to cover himself with it from the attack of the running jotuns.
The blow that broke through the ice shield stopped a few centimeters from Alex's head. A second later, this piece of ice went somewhere far away in one frightened movement along with the jotun whose hand was still inside the piece of ice. As soon as he was left without protection, his hand was hit by a shard of ice thrown by another jotun. The cold that formed from the wound was unnatural, but from receiving such a wound, Alex himself began to fall, which saved his life from several more hits.
Without thinking twice, Alex began to raise a wall of ice several meters thick. This gave him time to get himself in order. The water he had enveloped himself in again covered his entire body and began to remove the effects of the injury. When the pain went away, it was time to answer the attackers. From the wall that the Jotuns were hitting trying to break through, fragments began to shoot out, which began to injure the Jotuns. Several managed to avoid the attack and now they were looking at the wall of ice that resembled a hedgehog and killed several of their comrades. The last two Jotuns looked at each other and began to agree on something, when part of the ice wall simply sank down.
From this wall came out a completely healthy, but angry inhabitant of Midgard. Although there was calm on his face, anger burned inside him.
Without waiting long for the attack, he simply launched the entire ice wall at his enemies. One of them managed to dodge and avoid being flattened, but his comrade was less fortunate. The last Jotun turned to see how the wall of ice simply crashed completely into the rock.
With a furious cry, the last attacker rushed at the alien. Transforming his hands into pieces of ice, he was literally a meter short of avenging his brothers. A large spike that appeared right in front of the Midgardian stopped any aggressive activity of the last attacker.
The winner was given the opportunity to live a little longer in this icy wasteland if he did not find a way out of it.
After spending some time at the battle site, Alex collected some trophies. Humanoids that could work with ice were of particular interest to him, a hand covered in ice, the head of one of the dead, and something that functioned as a heart were thrown into a bag made of ice. Not having any clear reason to leave the place, the avenger sat on a hill waiting for some changes. After an hour and a half, his expectations were justified.
Somewhere on the horizon, a flicker of light appeared. Realizing that even if it was a rupture, it might not bring him back to earth, but there were not many options. Having made himself a small sled from ice, he went to the place of the flicker.
For several hours he used his powers to drive his transport towards this shimmer. The continuous use of powers for such a long time made itself felt. But he could not allow himself to rest. The water that surrounded him could lose its shape and then he would freeze here in a couple of minutes.
As he headed towards the shimmer, he saw several groups of Jotuns simply looking at the transport that was moving through their lands. Some of the Jotuns were moving in the same direction as him, which spurred Alex to get there much faster. As he approached, Alex noticed that the shimmer was created by water that was flowing out of the rift.
The rift itself was about 100 meters above the ground. Looking around, there were several jotuns under the rift who were freezing the water that was falling and trying to create a tower out of it to get to the rift.
For many, it would be a problem to reach the rift. But fatigue and the hope that it was the earth pushed him to speed up and get out of here. Stopping just pushing with his strength, he concentrated and directed the sleigh itself into the rift as if he were Santa Claus only without reindeer. The Oituns who were below tried to stop him. But the ice fragments could do nothing with the ice sleigh.
One second. That's all it takes to leave the dark, icy world and find yourself in a mountainous area on the banks of a river.
Throwing off the water he was carrying, he took a long-awaited breath that was saturated with oxygen.
"It's so good that I'm home again" - the thoughts of a person who simply visited another aggressive planet and by evening had already gotten out of it.
After lying there for a while, just breathing and catching his breath, the thought came to him that he needed to get ready and find civilization. Taking out his phone, fear pierced him. The fear that many people have when their phone gets so wet that it stops working. Having calmed down a bit, it was decided to leave the phone to try to get the data out of it.
Realizing that we urgently needed to look for people. Moving along the river was the best solution. Having sat on the sled again and checked our trophies, it was decided to go against the current.
After swimming for about ten minutes and going around the mountainous area, Alex saw something he never expected to see.
The large golden city that opened up before his eyes was mesmerizing in its beauty. The many golden buildings reflected the light, creating dazzling reflections that danced on the surface of the water.
- Looks like I'll have to be an unexpected guest, I hope Thor can help me get home. - It turns out the assumption about returning home was wrong, which means that the journey is still ongoing.