SWNOVELXO Chapter 3: Vanaheim
"It was during the great frost‑giant incursion," Odin bellowed, pounding his fist into his palm as he stood proudly at the front of the glowing emerald longship.
Max smiled and leaned against the curved rail, listening while stars and nebulae streaked past. They were sailing through space, a blur of vibrant color all around them, yet Odin's booming voice made everything feel more grounded.
"They breached the outer wall of Asgard under cover of night, thinking themselves clever—fools," Odin went on. "I led only seven Einherjar and drove them back through the gates. Their leader, Ymir's spawn, stood twenty feet tall, made of pure ice, and swung a hammer the size of a drakkar. I took his head with one stroke of Mjolnir. I hit him so hard he simply ceased to exist." He laughed deeply. "Ah, that was a battle."
Max chuckled and shook his head. "You're a great storyteller."
"Thank you," Odin said with a grin. Then his gaze sharpened. "But you, Grænlaðr—protector of the universe—you must have tales of glory as well. What great foes have you bested?"
Max hesitated. "Oh. Yes. I have many."
His mind scrambled for something…anything to say. He quickly made something up.
"Well," he began, clearing his throat, "there was the time I fought Brainiac. He was a machine…umm man who collected and shrank entire cities, absorbed the knowledge of whole civilizations, and sometimes destroyed them outright."
Odin raised a brow, clearly intrigued.
"He had already destroyed a hundred worlds. His ship was the size of a moon. I arrived just as he was about to compress a city into one of his bottle prisons."
Gaining confidence, Max wove the tale like a practiced storyteller. "He underestimated me, of course. I flew straight through his defenses, bypassed these horrible spider‑like automatons, and confronted him in his core. We fought, it was grand but in the end I overloaded him with my power and destroyed him. I freed the captured cities and scattered his remains across six galaxies."
Odin stared for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Ha! A saga worthy of the skalds. You are too humble, Grænlaðr."
Max rubbed the back of his neck and sighed quietly. "Thanks. I'm not really a great storyteller."
Trying to change the subject, he looked ahead. "So, what should we expect when we reach Vanaheim?"
Odin's expression darkened. "Do not expect a warm welcome. My uncle Njord has no love for me, my father, or Asgard."
"And Mimir?" Max asked.
Odin's jaw tightened. "Worse. Mimir was the one who most loudly opposed my father Bor's claim to the throne. He even took Gungnir, the weapon of Asgard's kings, and swore that neither my father nor his children had the right to wield it."
Max blinked. "Wait, you're saying your uncle stole Gungnir?"
"Aye. He fancies himself a hero for doing that, but he is a bitter old man who thinks himself wiser than the rest of us. Regardless, we must try to retrieve the spear if we can, Grænlaðr."
Max sighed. "So… no diplomacy then?"
"With Njord, perhaps," Odin replied, offering a half smile. "He may yet be persuaded. But with Mimir?" He clenched his fist and let the question hang.
Max nodded, still turning over Odin's words, when Jade's voice sounded through the ship.
"Approaching destination. Arrival in three… two… one."
Ahead of them, the stars parted and the planet came into view.
Green—that was the first thing Max noticed. From orbit Vanaheim looked like a living jewel, an endless expanse of forest, rich and vibrant, pulsing with life. There were no vast oceans or barren wastes, only uninterrupted greenery laced with rivers that caught the light like silver threads.
"Wow," Max whispered, stepping forward. "It's beautiful."
Odin squinted at the world below and gave a dismissive grunt. "Meh, nothing special. Now Asgard—that is a realm worthy of awe. It is not even a planet; it floats at the center of the cosmos, built on a golden disk and surrounded by seas of stars. My uncle's little forest kingdom cannot compare."
Max smiled, his eyes still fixed on the green world. "I look forward to visiting someday."
"You will," Odin declared. "After we defeat Surtur, I shall bring you to Asgard, and we will feast in our honor: roasted boar, rivers of mead, and songs of our glory sung for centuries."
Max chuckled. "I could get used to that."
"Jade," he called, "take us down."
"Descending to the surface," the AI replied.
The ship began its slow descent through the atmosphere, green energy trailing behind as clouds of white and silver streaked past. As they dropped lower, the scale of Vanaheim unfolded before Max in staggering detail.
Verdant forests blanketed the land, stretching endlessly in all directions. Rivers snaked through valleys, their curves glinting in the sunlight. Mountain ranges jutted up from the horizon, and clinging to their sides were magnificent cities—temples with golden roofs, gardens hanging from terraces, massive statues woven seamlessly into the cliffs, half-overgrown with moss and ivy, as if nature itself had sculpted the realm.
The air shimmered with energy—alive, ancient. Max could feel it tingling against his skin, even through the ring's aura.
Odin crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Asgard still has better towers."
Max shook his head, smiling. "So where do we go first?"
Odin opened his mouth to answer, then paused and frowned. From below, distant but rising fast, came the unmistakable clang of steel and a thunderous roar. Shouts followed, then flames, and a flash of orange light.
Odin's expression turned grim. "Fire giants? They attack here as well?"
A fiery blast tore through a section of forest, followed by a chorus of screams. Odin didn't hesitate. He stepped to the edge of the ship and bellowed, "Come, Grænlaðr! Let us show them our strength!"
With Mjolnir spinning in his hand, he leapt from the ship in a blur, flying toward the chaos below with his war cries echoing.
Max didn't waste a second. The construct ship dissolved behind him as he launched into the sky, green energy flaring from his ring.
On the ground, chaos reigned.
The Vanir warriors were holding their own. Cloaked in magic-woven armor and wielding spears, bows, and spells, they fought in tight formations against towering fire giants. Mages stood on cliff ledges, casting streams of water and vines that wrapped around the legs of molten beasts, dragging them down. Archers loosed glowing arrows that pierced even flame-forged flesh.
They were strong, disciplined. And they were winning.
Max was impressed—right up until the sky above them tore open.
More portals.
He saw them: circular, smooth-edged, and rimmed with a cool blue light. They shimmered like glass underwater, bending the air around them, and opened with a pulse of energy. Their sudden, sharp presence was clean and precise.
They looked eerily familiar.
Wait... those look like—
But his thoughts were cut off by a thunderous boom.
Odin slammed into the battlefield like a meteor. Mjolnir whirled in his hand, then flew into two fire giants at once. The weapon cracked through their chests like thunder splitting trees, sending both giants crashing in flaming heaps. Odin summoned the hammer back and struck again without pause.
Max dove in behind him, already forming constructs.
He spread his hands, and from the glowing emerald light emerged titans of his own—giant warriors of green energy, shaped like the fire giants they faced.
He raised his fists, and the constructs moved with him.
They charged the enemy lines. Max controlled them like extensions of himself, each motion deliberate and fluid. One swung a massive club, another tackled a fire giant into a rocky outcrop, and a third ripped apart a flaming beast's head.
The fire giants were confused, and that was when Odin struck again. He led the Vanir in a renewed charge, their swords and spells carving through the disoriented ranks. One by one, the giants fell, overwhelmed by the combined fury of an Aesir, a Lantern, and the Vanir.
It didn't take long.
Max hovered above the trees, scanning the battlefield with his ring until he spotted the last fire giant crawling away, molten blood trailing behind him. Max extended his hand, green light flaring from his ring.
A focused beam erupted—fast and precise—striking the giant through the back. The creature crumbled to ash, its death echoing into the silence that followed.
Max descended slowly, landing near Odin amid the battlefield. The ground still glowed in patches of smoldering fire and shattered stone.
Odin marched toward him, laughing, eyes bright with the joy of the battle they had just fought. He threw his arms around Max in a crushing hug.
"Ha! That was a great trick, Grænlaðr! They probably thought they were fighting their own shadows!"
Max let out a breathless laugh, still catching his breath.
But his smile faded as he looked up. Vanir warriors had surrounded them, weapons drawn and faces unreadable.
"Uh... Odin," Max said quietly, eyes scanning the semicircle of archers and spellcasters forming around them, "we've got another problem."
Odin turned, frowning, and his grip tightened on Mjolnir.
"Stand down!" Odin boomed to the surrounding Vanir warriors. "Do you not know who I am? I am Odin Borson, Prince of Asgard, nephew to your king!"
There was a moment of stillness. Then a voice answered from above.
"They know who you are, nephew."
Max looked up.
Descending from the sky was a tall, elegant figure draped in flowing robes of seafoam green and silver, marked with swirling patterns like waves. In his hand, he held a long, ornate spear carved from what looked like ivory and gold. His presence was calm, yet commanding, like a tide that could not be resisted.
He landed lightly in front of them, his boots not even disturbing the ash-strewn ground. His gaze settled on Odin with cold familiarity, then slid to Max, his eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity.
"Uncle," Odin said tightly, lowering his weapon just enough to be respectful.
"Of course," Njord replied, his voice smooth as still water. "I should have known you would arrive uninvited."
Odin crossed his arms. "Well, we came at the right time, then. Saved your Vanir from—"
"They were capable of defeating the invaders without your help, Odin," Njord cut in sharply.
Odin glanced at Max, then back at his uncle, his jaw tightening. "Then what do you plan to do about these invasions? You know who is behind them. Surtur has begun his war."
He gestured to the scorched battlefield around them. "Come with us. Join Grænlaðr and me. Together, with our combined strength, we can strike at Muspelheim. End this before it consumes the realms."
Njord shook his head slowly, disappointment in his eyes. "Always so quick to leap into fire. You cannot simply march into Muspelheim and expect to survive."
Odin stepped forward, anger flaring. "So you will be like Father, then? Hide away while the realms burn?"
Njord's voice sharpened, his calm finally cracking. "Do not compare me to your father."
A tense silence followed.
"I will deal with this my way. I do not need help from the Aesir," Njord said coldly.
He turned to the Vanir warriors. "Escort them to the edge of our realm. Odin, Green One... leave."
Odin's fists clenched, his knuckles whitening around Mjolnir's handle. His chest rose with slow, simmering breaths, fury barely contained. His gaze locked on Njord, his jaw clenched as if he were on the edge of exploding.
Max stepped in quickly, placing a steady hand on his friend's shoulder. "Easy," he murmured.
Then he turned to Njord, his expression calm but serious. "Those portals," Max said, nodding toward where they had opened, "they looked like..."
Njord's eyes snapped toward him with sudden, piercing intensity. "What?"
Max held his gaze. "They looked like they were created by an Infinity Stone."
Njord's eyes widened slightly, a ripple of recognition disturbing his calm. His grip on the spear tightened.
"How do you know of such forbidden knowledge?" he asked in a low, wary tone.
Max didn't answer the question. Instead, he asked, "So you do recognize it?"
Odin turned his head, blinking. "Wait—Infinity Stone?" He looked between the two of them. "I thought they were myths. Impossible to find."
But neither Max nor Njord looked at him. Their eyes remained locked in a silent exchange.
Max broke the silence. "Well?"
Njord exhaled through his nose. "Yes," he said at last. "I recognized the energy when the first attacks began."
Max felt a tightness in his chest. "So Surtur has the Space Stone."
Odin's face darkened with horror. "Then it is even worse than we thought. Uncle, you must lead your armies. You must come with us to invade Muspelheim. This cannot wait."
But Njord's expression hardened. "I will do no such thing. If Surtur comes to Vanaheim, I will defeat him here."
He turned his eyes on Max, cool and unreadable. "And you... I do not know what you are. You wear seidr unlike anything I've seen. You know things very few in this universe know." His gaze narrowed slightly. "Be careful around the Aesir, especially this one." He nodded toward Odin. "And his father."
Without another word, Njord turned. With a single gesture of his spear, the Vanir soldiers fell in around him, and together, they disappeared into the forest.
Max let out a long breath, breaking the tension. "Well... now what?"
Odin looked at him grimly. "We find Mimir. And quickly. If Surtur is plotting with the power of an Infinity Stone..." His eyes narrowed. "Then the Realms may not survive what comes next."