The battle against the Ragnarok Heralds continued, and the longer it went the more Valkyries lost their lives.
Each of the remaining three monstrosities was adamant on reaching its destination and to do so they rained destruction on everything they passed.
Though Sam had managed to convince one of the enemies to allow him to meet their leader, nothing was said about a ceasefire. That mean the battle will continue until he manages to convince the Nephilim queen to put an end to it, if that's possible to begin with.
After all Mjölnir was just acting according to her own thoughts. She was sent to investigate the forty sixth base which was responsible for the use of Baldr's light, and though there hasn't been any specific orders, she was supposed to dispose of all the humans that were there.
No one expected her to come back without killing everyone there let alone bring the leader of the humans with her.
The ship landed a very long distance away from the destination. The queen has yet to agree to the meeting so he was forced to wait until she makes her decision.
That worked for Sam as well. What he needed right now was time, and the longer his enemies delayed their decisions the better.
Sadly it didn't take long for the permission to be granted and someone was sent to inspect him before he gets to stand in front of the queen.
"You're…"
"Black Thorn. Queen Hela's closest advisor and right hand."
As he and Mjölnir waited in front of the jet another Nephilim came down from the sky. The purple hair and six wings weren't easy to forget so he quickly recognized her.
She was the monster who almost killed Zero Five following the battle against Torso. The one who gave Zero Three nightmares, causing her to suffer from the terror to the point that she could no longer fight.
Once again Sam felt his rage swelling rapidly, but as usual he couldn't allow himself to show his true emotions.
"I'm Sam Sanderson. The Valkyrie physician and supervisor at the forty sixth Resistance base, currently taking the commanding position."
He was about to say nice to meet you, but that would've been such an obvious lie that even the enemy would've found it offensive.
"He's the one who made the new heart?" Black Thorn asked, turning to Mjölnir with doubtful eyes.
The silver haired Nephilim twitched once, realizing she had taken his word for everything so far.
"I'm the only one able to." Sam said, interjecting before Mjölnir could ruin things for them. "Odin's blue prints ended up in my hands so I'm the only one beside him who can manufacture the Valkyries. Well, at least some parts of them, since the files seem to be fake."
"So you've stolen another man's invention and took the credit for yourself?"
"I wouldn't say that." Sam replied. "Ms. Mjölnir said you dissected the Valkyries, right? You should already know that they lack the abilities you're concerned about. Plus the technology used to create the modified parts is designed by me."
"I see. I assume you've already passed the knowledge to someone else since you're willing to come here." Said the purple hair Nephilim.
"Obviously." Sam answered truthfully. "We're fighting for our survival here. Even if our lose is guaranteed, we have to keep fighting to the very end. In fact it's because we have no way out that we have to keep fighting."
Staring at him for a few seconds, Black Thorn then closed her eyes and heaved a long sigh, holding her hand up and inserting it into a wall of haze.
"That's pretty convenient." Sam commented, watching her take something out of the haze. "Is it pocket dimensions?"
"So you know." Said the Nephilim. "If you have electronics on you then take them out right now. You don't happen to have any implants, right?"
"Nope. I'm a completely biological human being as far as I know."
As he took out his phone and handed it over, Sam couldn't help but imagine a scenario where it turns out he was an android all along. If that were to happen his reaction would definitely not be surprised or shock. Rather, he would probably laugh until he passes out.
"This is a smartphone?" Said Black Thorn. "Such primitive technology."
"Smartphones are primitive? Your world must be quite the technological wonderland, then."
"We are the technological wonder. Humanity's last invention as well."
"Certainly."
If that was a joke Sam failed to see what was funny about it. He stood in his place as she scanned him up and down with baton like device and after she went over his body multiple times she put it aside and moved away.
"You're clear. Follow me."
Saying that the purple haired Nephilim took off into the sky. Mjölnir followed after her and Sam just watched them with a dumbfounded look on his face.
A few seconds later they came back looking somewhat embarrassed.
"My apologies. I forgot humans are incapable of flight."
'You just scanned me to see if I have anything unnatural on me!' While he wanted to tell that at her, Sam kept his silence and waited for the two to come up with a decision.
Mjölnir was forced to carry him with her. She was about to litt him like a princess, but Sam refused to allow that. In the end she wrapped her arms around him from behind and took off into the sky. It wasn't that comfortable of an experience, but the soft cushion pressed against his back was enough for him to put up with it.
He noticed that the silver haired Nephilim was quite anxious through the entire flight. The blushing told him that she has grown conscious of him over the little time they've known each other, and though he felt disgusted by that he couldn't help but think her feelings might come in handy at some point.
The coordinates where they landed the jet was somewhere around Florida, however after half an hour of flight he was no longer able to guess where they were going.
Soon enough a strange construction came into sight. It was a large castle made out of some strange obsidian material, looking just like what the lair of an evil villain would look like. That said, Sam couldn't help feeling amazed by the design, which if he had to choose a word to describe it with it would be cool.
The place looked eerily empty. The three landed at the large front gate and waited for it to open. A few seconds passed before that happened and when it did never ending darkness was revealed to be hidden inside.
"Just to be on the cleare side, make sure to keep your mouth shut unless you're spoken to, and mind the way you speak."
Saying that, Black Thorn took a step inside, Mjölnir following behind her.
Sam stood in his place for a few seconds. He looked up at the obsidian palace, marveling at its, feeling that it was carved out of one giant rock.
Taking a deep breath he returned his gaze to the path forward. His biggest challenge yet is awaiting his arrival inside. The outcome was easy to imagine, but at the very least he has managed to buy enough time.