Blood of the Old Gods
Blood of the Old Gods — an illustrated comics story. 20 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Comics.
Page 1
The wind howled, a mournful cry echoing through the crystal valleys. Below, the tiny kingdom of Aethelgard huddled around its central spire, lights flickering against the swirling snow. Above, the hand of a forgotten god loomed large, its fingers dusted with frost.
Page 2
Prince Theron, the last of Aethelgard's line, stood defiant atop the ice spire, his gaze fixed on the colossal hand. The fate of his people rested on his shoulders, a weight heavier than any crown. He knew the prophecy, the legend of the Blood of the Old Gods, their only hope for salvation.
Page 3
"The blood..." Theron muttered, tracing the ancient runes carved into the spire's icy surface. Elara, the royal scholar, hurried to his side, her breath misting in the frigid air. "The legends speak of a power source outside our globe, a force tied to the gods themselves," she explained, adjusting her spectacles.
Page 4
Suddenly, the ground trembled. A fissure cracked across the ice, splitting the kingdom in two. Panic erupted as buildings crumbled and the spire groaned under the strain. The forgotten god stirred, its fingers twitching.
Page 5
Theron staggered, clutching Elara for support. "It's happening!" he cried, his voice barely audible above the chaos. Elara's eyes widened in fear. "The prophecy... it said the god would awaken when Aethelgard was on the brink of destruction!"
Page 6
"There's no time for fear!" Theron yelled, pulling Elara toward the stables, "As Franklin Roosevelt said, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' We must follow the prophecy." He grabbed his steed, Boreas, a majestic white wolf. "We ride for the Blood of the Old Gods!"
Page 7
They raced across the fractured landscape, dodging falling debris and terrified citizens. Boreas leaped over chasms, his powerful legs eating up the ground. "The Crystal Caves!" Elara shouted, pointing toward a jagged range of ice mountains in the distance. "The entrance is hidden within!"
Page 8
Suddenly, a colossal figure descended from the sky, blocking their path. It was a shard of the god himself, an avatar of frozen wrath, wreathed in icy mist. Its eyes burned with ancient power, fixed on the fleeing prince.
Page 9
"You cannot escape your destiny, Theron!" the avatar roared, its voice like the grinding of glaciers. A wave of icy energy surged from its hand, slamming into the ground before them. Boreas reared up in terror, nearly unseating his rider. "We must fight!" Theron cried, drawing his ancestral sword, Frostfang.
Page 10
The avatar launched a volley of ice shards, each one sharp as a razor. Theron deflected them with Frostfang, the ancient blade humming with power. The fight was desperate, the fate of Aethelgard hanging in the balance.
Page 11
Elara, knowing she could not match the avatar's power, searched for a weakness. She remembered a passage from an ancient scroll: "The Blood of the Old Gods flows where the crystal sings." She saw the caves and had an idea. "Theron, the caves, find the crystal!"
Page 12
"But Elara..." Theron started, concern etched on his face, but Elara cut him off. "Go! I'll distract it for as long as I can. Find the Blood of the Old Gods!" With newfound resolve, Theron spurred Boreas towards the Crystal Caves, leaving Elara to face the avatar alone.
Page 13
Deeper and deeper into the caves Theron went, his wolf bounding deftly along the icy paths. The deeper he traveled, the warmer it got, yet the more dangerous the path became. Would he find the Blood of the Old Gods in time?
Page 14
Elara was proving to be no match for the Avatar, constantly blasted down by icy gusts, yet always standing up again. The Avatar's energy was too overwhelming. "I can hold you off no longer." Elara felt drained.
Page 15
Finally, Theron burst into a vast cavern, the air shimmering with ethereal light. In the center stood a colossal crystal, pulsating with energy. As Theron approached, the crystal sang, a melody echoing through the chamber.
Page 16
As Theron reached the crystal, he touched it, as a torrent of memories filled him. He saw his ancestors, the rise and fall of Aethelgard, and the true nature of the Old Gods. He had now understood. He must make a choice.
Page 17
He can either take the crystal's power for himself, saving Aethelgard but becoming a tyrant... or he can sacrifice the crystal, shattering their world and giving the kingdom a chance to rebuild elsewhere. Theron took a breath, then with all his might drew Frostfang.
Page 18
With a final cry, Theron swung Frostfang, shattering the crystal into a thousand pieces. The cavern erupted in light, the energy surging outwards. The crystal gave him the power to now give Aethalgard back to the world to be reborn.
Page 19
Back in the shattered kingdom, Elara watched in awe as the avatar dissolved into snowflakes, the storm fading away. The colossal hand above trembled, then slowly retracted, leaving the snow globe behind. "Theron..." she whispered, knowing what he had sacrificed.
Page 20
The snow globe, now empty, lay nestled in the palm of the forgotten god. The hand closed, cradling the globe, a silent promise of rebirth. Perhaps one day, Aethelgard would rise again, a testament to the courage of its prince. The gods never forget.
About this story
- Audience: general readers
Questions and answers
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