Chapter 5: Eternal Thor Part V
The war over the next few years developed to a whole new level of conflict. Thor who had focused his attention to the south of Valusia swung north, replacing his brothers, Zuras and A'Lars.
The Deviant forces that had come through Zarfhaana had been making rapid progress. Thor however managed to lead the alliance of Eternals and humans to a number of key victories that slowed the Deviants progress dramatically. Relieving some of the pressure that had befallen their entire war effort.
However, the success he managed to create down in the south of Valusia was not being replicated in the north. The Commander of the Deviant forces there was skilled, that was plain to see to all those watching that area.
Arguably just as skilled as Thor despite not having made an appearance.
But to Thor, this was only further proof to him that this Vingthor was the second fragment of his soul. The tactics he employed during the battles were those favoured by Asgardians. Tactics that while not uncommon elsewhere, had been developed and evolved by centuries of Asgardian discipline.
Thor recognised them instantly.
"You're certain that Tantalus and his elites will come?" Kronos asked, coming to a stop beside him, behind them Makkari, Zuras and A'Lars formed up. "It seems like we're banking everything on the possibility that Tantalus will throw everything at you."
"He'll come," Thor stated firmly, more than confident in his decision. He may not have been the tactician that Tyr was, but there weren't many like him in the first place. Not even Odin could match the strategical mind of Tyr, a feat that not many could claim.
Above all else, the tactics being employed by Vingthor were the same tactics he too had favoured. A number of smaller skirmishes all leading up to a final charge to kill the enemy Commander. It was a favoured tactic of his, one that he had used to devastating effect in numerous wars.
A simple plan that due to his great strength resulted in victory more often than not.
It was one being used against him now, an odd feeling for sure. 'But there's something a little different to how I would usually use it.' Thor thought to himself, arms crossed over his chest. It was more prolonged, he would have not spent years probing these strikes and would have spent at most a few weeks. This Vingthor may be him, but they weren't exactly the same it appeared.
"How can you be sure? The Deviants have been focusing a great deal of their forces towards the south of Valusia. Without us there it will certainly fall and then we'll be trapped." A'Lars pressed.
"It's precisely because they're doing that," Thor answered. "By sending the vast majority of their troops to the south, it forces us to do the same. Thus weakening our northern front and leaving me exposed and alone. Just trust me, Tantalus will come here, just wait a little longer."
Though as Thor said that, part of him wondered about the differences within his other counterpart. The fact that he had allowed the war to last this young without using such a tactic in the beginning and even then, using a large number of probing attacks was more similar to his brother Baldur than himself.
Though the endgame was all him, this counterpart was still slightly different to how he had been.
'Did the splitting of me from the majority cause a change to appear? I suppose it would make sense in a way.' He wondered, gaze looking upon the horizon and slowly, over the distance movement could be seen.
"He's here," Makkari spoke up, sensing the presence of his longtime foe, Tantalus amongst the approaching Deviants.
"You were right," Zuras noted and Thor said nothing.
Even if this other Thor wasn't entirely the same as him, some things could never be fully changed. "Allow Oceanus to deal with the Deviant forces, I will face Tantalus, the rest of you deal with his Inner Circle. This war ends today."
Nods were shared all around.
-X- Line Break -X-
A powerful blast of light rushed forwards, smashing into the muscular, yellow-skinned man. It drove him into the ground, throwing him back as Thor rushed through the air after him.
It had happened so suddenly that the Deviants didn't even have a moment to react as their leader, Tantalus was attacked. However, there was one who recovered incredibly quickly, a large red-furred figure that burst from the ground with explosive force. Kronos though was there, grabbing hold of the figure's wrist and slamming a fist of his own into their face.
Yet to his shock, the figure didn't go flying.
Instead, the furred figure went with momentum, freehand gripping into his neck and with a shout, threw Kronos to the ground. It erupting upwards in a small mushroom cloud, that threw the approaching figures on both the Eternals and Deviants sides away.
Landing, the furred figure stalked towards Kronos who pushed himself to his knees, head shaking. 'This is the strength of the Deviant, Vingthor?' Kronos thought in wonderment and a slight bit of nervousness. 'I had thought Makkari had exaggerated his strength. Physically, he's stronger than even Donar.'
Meanwhile, Zuras rushed forwards, gripping hold of a flying boulder and slamming it into the recovering Phraug. It threw him back, Zuras following it up with a powerful beam of energy.
The Peacekeepers, Pelops and Lucian upon seeing their leader and father in peril, rushed forwards only for a blur to suddenly appear between them all. Makkari's form was nothing more than a blur as he lashed out with numerous kicks to the bodies of Pelops and Lucian.
They grunted out, thrown back while Makkari chased after them, much like Thor, not giving them a chance to recover.
The Peacekeepers, Wraath, Toxin, Lady Trident and Bristle all looked towards the final figure that stood before them. Unlike the rest of his kind, A'Lars was not muscular nor did he look imposing. He was the opposite, tall, thin and lanky with long-flowing hair. Arms clasped behind his back as the Deviants looked towards one another.
Then they rushed forwards, Toxin cutting open a part of his palm and allowing his black blood to flow freely. Wiping it out, Toxin threw as much of his blood as he could towards A'Lars only for a barrier to appear.
Without so much as a twitch, A'Lars manipulated the shield he had summoned to simultaneously form a bubble around the blood. It also shot out, exploding upon impact with Toxin and for a moment there was a blinding light. Then from it, the smoked and charred figure of Toxin dropped to the ground.
'Hmm, I had expected them to be stronger considering they are the elites of the Deviants. But it seems that compared to Tantalus and Vingthor, these Peacekeepers and even Phraug are hardly anything to worry about.' A'Lars thought, another blast of energy shooting out, striking against Wraath who at least managed to survive. However, the sharp arc of cosmic energy, lined with the blood from Toxin proved too much for either of the remaining three.
Shallow cuts lining them all and the toxin within the blood eating away at them from the inside.
"A'Lars, let's help father!" Zuras called, bounding across the area in a few tries before shooting off into the air directly towards where Kronos was engaged in the battle against Vingthor. To his shock, Kronos was being heavily pressured by Vingthor.
Saying nothing, A'Lars shot through the air, heading to join his brother in aiding their father.
-X- Line Break -X-
Growling, Tantalus rose to his feet, watching as Thor descended towards him calmly and elegantly. He was one of the first Deviants ever created by the Celestials and was the first Deviant to conquer his planet by eliminating and enslaving all non-Deviant species upon Arqa.
Anyone who had gotten his way was killed and since then, Tantalus had spent his time influencing those around him to do the same. Such as the Skrulls and the Kree, he made sure that all Deviants eliminated the Eternals.
Yet against all the Eternals he had faced, there was no one who had caused him as much pain as Thor had. That singular bolt of cosmic energy was beyond anything he had felt before and he had faced many powerful Eternals before. Even the strongest of the Eternals on Earth, Makkari and Kronos were nowhere near as strong as some of the Eternals he had faced.
They were powerful, but not overwhelmingly so.
Thor on the other hand was a very different matter and Tantalus felt his lips curl. He did not like this unexpected outcome at all. 'Earth is filled with many interesting individuals.' The Deviant, Vingthor was perhaps the greatest find amongst the Deviants he had come across and recruited to his cause. The physical power he possessed was beyond anything Tantalus had encountered before.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the Eternals had a similar individual amongst their midsts. 'Then I'll kill him and end this threat once and for all.' He snarled, thrust his hand forwards and releasing a wave of black fog towards Thor.
The man in question, shot into the air, avoiding the fog and firing numerous more bolts of lighting towards Tantalus who this time was prepared. With lips curled into an ugly snarl, he swiped his hands out and smacked the bolts to one side. Then he leapt forwards, fog gathering around his hands only for a powerful shield to appear in his way.
Tantalus wasn't in the least bit worried, he had faced similar tactics from other Eternals in his time hunting and slaughtering them. He had improved his unique skill he called Black Legacy.
Smashing his fist into the barrier, Tantalus shattered it completely and continued on, a wave of fog rushing for Thor once more. However, by slapping his hands together, the Eternal released a powerful gust of wind that sent the Black Legacy rushing back towards Tantalus.
It didn't bother him, Tantalus was immune to the effects of his own power and continued to close in upon Thor. A deadly game of cat and mouse taking shape, Tantalus trying to close the distance and leverage his superior physical strength to gain the advantage. He also tried to use his Black Legacy, either in close combat or from a distance to take Thor out.
As for Thor himself, he used his ability of flight while peppering Tantalus with bolts of lightning. Meanwhile, he made liberal use of the wind around him to keep the fog of Black Legacy away from him.
It seemed to be even and was, until in an instance of inattentiveness from Tantalus, Makkari arrived. Having broken away from Tantalus' sons, Pelops and Lucian, Makkari closed in upon the leader of the Deviants. In his hands, the spear of Lucian, the Shadowlance pierced through Tantalus' chest with ease.
Forged from an unknown metal and combined with the momentum that Makkari created, it cut through him with ease. As soon as it did, Makkari channelled every ounce of his Cosmic energy into a powerful beam of energy that exploded outwards.
On top of that, Thor released his own energy.
Having seen Makkari approach, Thor came to a stop, vast amounts of cosmic energy gathering around his hands. With a shout, he released it all in a concentrated blast upon Tantalus and Makkari.
The ground erupted, a blinding light exploding out across the planet.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Carrots123
Carrots123 Tbh, I tried to make this fight longer, but honestly there was just no way to realistically make it possible. Donar is seriously powerful. As you saw, the Deviants didn't really stand a chance and while some had unique powers like Tantalus and his Black Legacy and Vingthor with his immense physical strength, that's about it. If I dragged this fight out any longer it would mean nerfing characters like Thor and others which I didn't want to do. Just take this for what it was, Eternals giving the Deviants and absolute beat down.
Weekly Power Status
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