{🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please support me.🥰 You can access upto 105+ advance chapter through Patreon by using the link: https://patreon.com/HACKDWORLD
The appointment letter bore Odin's majestic signature, affirming Rowe's official designation as captain of the Thirty-Fourth Combat Team. His position also came with the rank of third-tier officer in Asgard's military hierarchy, and a comprehensive overview of the team's condition was included.
In Asgard's standard military protocol, a combat team typically comprised twelve warriors, though actual numbers could range from ten to twenty. Rowe's new unit leaned on the larger side, numbering fifteen members—including himself as captain and two vice-captains.
What caught Rowe off guard was the presence of several familiar names on the team roster.
One of the vice-captains turned out to be Skorch—an old comrade he hadn't seen in years. The other was Farwind, the clairvoyant Rowe had encountered when he first arrived at the Asgardian military encampment.
Among the remaining twelve, three stood out as familiar faces. The first two weren't especially surprising: one was a Valkyrie warrior, and the other was Haldo from the Norvi Magic Shop. Both had shared minor, cordial interactions with Rowe in the past.
The third name, however, gave him pause.
Amora.
As his eyes hovered over the name, Rowe's expression tensed.
Heimdall, noticing the subtle shift in Rowe's demeanor, leaned in.
"Amora? Isn't she the one we ran into back in Nornheim?"
Rowe nodded, exhaling quietly.
"Yeah."
Heimdall's face twisted thoughtfully, and then a spark of memory lit his gaze.
"Wait… didn't you tell me she killed someone? Who was it?"
Rowe stood without answering, brushing past the question. He bid farewell to his companions, gathered his belongings, and made his way toward the Thirty-Fourth Combat Team's quarters.
It wasn't long before he arrived.
"Rowe?!"
Skorch, towering at nearly two meters tall and unmistakable with his beastly build, rose with visible astonishment. Despite Rowe's growth in stature and demeanor, Skorch recognized him instantly. The years had changed Rowe, but not beyond recognition.
"You've really shown up here! When did you arrive? And how…?"
Before Rowe could reply, Farwind snapped his fingers and interjected with a grin.
"Who else would it be? Skorch, he came with me. It's only been a few days, but he's already stirred quite a bit of interest. You two know each other?"
Rowe nodded politely at Farwind, offering a brief smile. Despite Farwind's friendliness, there was something unnerving about his omniscient gaze.
An unfamiliar voice cut through the conversation, laced with suspicion.
"You're our new captain?"
Rowe nodded and held up the appointment letter.
"Yes. I'm Rowe Garrison. From this day forward, I serve as your captain. I look forward to working together."
The same voice, still sharp, replied,
"This is a cursed squad. We've been wiped out twice. Four captains died in action. I hope you're not as incompetent as the last four."
Before Rowe could respond, another unfamiliar voice stepped forward, speaking with confidence.
"Erito, I'd bet my head he's nothing like them. If you fought him, you'd lose without a doubt."
Erito grunted and folded his arms.
The man who'd backed Rowe extended his hand in a gesture of respect.
"I saw your performance in the last engagement. Impressive work. I'm Arroyo."
"Thank you," Rowe replied, shaking his hand with a nod.
Introductions continued in order. While Haldo and the Valkyrie recognized Rowe, their familiarity was shallow. They had crossed paths briefly before his divine awakening and recalled little of him.
When he reached Amora, Rowe offered a stiff, polite smile.
"Hello."
Amora stared, blinking once in apparent surprise before her features curved into a sultry smile.
"So divine power has changed you, Rowe… But this version of you? This is how I've always pictured you."
Rowe, despite his lack of fondness for Amora, couldn't suppress a flicker of pride. Her words stoked something in him. Handsome, indeed—inside and out.
Suddenly, Amora's expression turned cold. Her gaze snapped toward Farwind.
"Keep staring and I'll rip your eyes out."
Farwind flinched, quickly averting his gaze—only for it to accidentally fall on Valkyrie.
"Crack!"
Valkyrie didn't wait for a warning. Her hand struck his cheek with a sharp, satisfying smack.
"I wasn't looking at you, Valkyrie!" Farwind yelped, covering his face.
"You were definitely looking at me," Amora added icily.
"Crack!"
Her palm connected with the other side of Farwind's face.
Now sporting perfectly symmetrical red marks, Farwind stood frozen as the rest of the squad burst into laughter.
"Ha! Peeping again, Farwind?" someone hollered.
"Perspective powers," Skorch chuckled, clapping Rowe's shoulder. "Fortune and misfortune, two sides of the same divine coin."
He nodded toward Farwind.
"Despite us both being vice-captains, you can tell who commands the real authority. Supernatural gifts aren't always a blessing."
Then Skorch turned back to Rowe, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"So tell me—what kind of divine power did you awaken with?"
"Fire," Rowe replied, conjuring a small flame in his palm.
Haldo whistled.
"Fire affinity. That'll come in handy against Frost Giants."
Arroyo chimed in.
"If you saw how he handled demons in the last battle, you'd know frost is the least of our concerns."
That Night
The cloak of night carried its usual unease—silent winds whispering of hidden threats. In truth, this dread was not unfounded. Frost Giants, ever averse to sunlight, preferred the shroud of night for their raids.
"Enemy attack!"
The alarm shattered the stillness, jolting soldiers from their slumber. Rowe and his unit armed themselves swiftly, scanning the horizon as shadowy figures approached.
"What's that?" Skorch asked, catching sight of an eerie sculpture Rowe had pulled from his pack.
"It's a demon idol," Farwind answered, narrowing his eyes.
"No," Rowe corrected, a subtle smile on his lips. "This is a devil."
A flame danced into existence in his hand. He lifted the idol high, then hurled it forward with precision.
The statue bled as it flew, leaking fire and malevolence. It twisted in midair, growing swiftly until it stood the height of a full-grown man. Its form solidified—a demon with crimson skin and infernal presence.
Though its aura was weak—lesser than an average Asgardian foot soldier—it wasn't meant for direct combat.
Instead, Rowe had another plan.
The summoned creature was shackled in illusionary chains and marked with mock injuries, its demeanor frantic as though it had just escaped from Asgardian captivity.
A distraction.
A calculated seed of chaos thrown into the enemy's ranks.
{ Enjoying the chapters? Please Support me on Patreon and unlock advanced chapters, with 3 new chapters released every two days!
The fanfic is also available for one-time purchase on Patreon – unlock lifetime access to the full collection, no membership needed! Don't miss out –support and own it forever!
patreon.com/HACKDWORLD}