The earth cracked.
A deep, low rumble rolled beneath Thor's boots as he turned toward the sound.
Just beyond the charred ridge of the ruined village, the ground split open — blood-colored light leaking through the fracture. Lines crawled across the soil like infected veins. The sky dimmed around it.
Then came the hiss.
A tear opened mid-air. Like someone had ripped apart reality.
And from it—they came.
Not like the demons Thor remembered. These weren't shapeless beasts of fire and bone. No. These were… armored. Modified. Their skin stitched with black steel and wires. Some dragged jagged blades grown from their arms, others stomped forward with limbs more machine than flesh. They moved with intent.
Marauders first.
Two of them—tall, humanoid, wolf-faced helmed monsters with glowing red eyes. Axes in each hand. Metal pulsing in sync with their hearts.
Then came the Barons.
Thick. Massive. Horned. Covered in plate-like scales and reinforced limbs. Red light seeped through the gaps in their flesh like lava cracks. One of them slammed its fists together—the shockwave cracked a nearby wall.
Thor narrowed his eyes.
"These aren't the creatures of Helheim…"
One of the paladins stepped beside him. "They look like machines."
"They're not," Thor muttered. "They're something worse."
More demons emerged—snarling, growling, scraping along the edges of the portal. Dozens, maybe more, forming a forward unit.
Behind Thor, the village survivors slammed doors. Windows shut. Some prayed. Some just ran.
The demons ignored them.
Their eyes locked on the armored warriors.
Thor clenched Mjolnir, the metal humming in his grip. "Paladins," he said calmly.
All five snapped to position. Shields up. Spears ready.
"They're not here to scare us. They're here to kill."
The lead paladin, a grizzled warrior with gray eyes, asked, "Orders, my king?"
Thor's eyes didn't leave the nearest Marauder.
"Hold formation. Don't break rank. Focus your strikes."
He raised Mjolnir slowly.
"And if they charge—"
The Barons roared.
"—make sure they don't get up again."