Marvel: Silver Hand

Alexander groaned as he pushed himself off the jagged, blackened ground. The air here was suffocating, thick with heat and the acrid stench of sulfur. The ground beneath him was cracked and blistered, glowing faintly with the lava coursing beneath the surface. Jagged rocks and rivers of molten fire carved chaotic paths through the barren wasteland. Above it all loomed an imposing volcano, its jagged peak crowned by a plume of ash and smoke that seemed to stretch endlessly into the blood-red sky.

"This place…" Alexander muttered, brushing soot off his jacket as he looked around. "It's like hell on earth."

"Not earth," Celebrimbor corrected, his spectral form standing tall beside him. "This is something else entirely—a realm forged by fire and destruction. And the volcano at its heart… I can feel a presence within it. A powerful one."

Alexander stared up at the smoldering mountain. He could feel it too, an oppressive weight pressing down on his chest, as if the volcano itself was watching him. "So, what's the plan? Climb it?"

Celebrimbor shook his head. "No need. If this realm has brought us here, then the path will reveal itself."

As if on cue, the ground beneath their feet trembled. Before Alexander could react, he felt his body being pulled forward, as if caught in an invisible current. His vision blurred, and in the blink of an eye, they were standing at the very peak of the volcano.

The heat was unbearable. Rivers of lava flowed freely down the volcano's sides, and the air shimmered with heatwaves. The fiery chasm at the volcano's center illuminated everything in a blood-red glow, the intense light casting jagged shadows across the rocky ledge on which they now stood. At the edge of the ledge sat a massive anvil, blackened with soot but sturdy and ancient.

Alexander took a cautious step toward it, his eyes drawn to the craftsmanship of the anvil. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen—perfectly balanced and radiating an aura of power. But before he could get any closer, the air around him rippled with heat.

From the flames of the volcano, a figure emerged.

He was tall and imposing, his very presence exuding heat and power. His hair was a cascade of fire, shifting from bright yellow at the roots to deep orange and red at the tips, as if it were made of living flames. His eyes glowed like molten gold, piercing and predatory. His skin was pale and ashen, marked with faint cracks that glowed faintly, like embers waiting to reignite.

The figure regarded Alexander with a knowing gaze. "So," he said, his voice deep and resonant, carrying the weight of ages, "you've made it here. That means you're one of mine."

Alexander froze. "One of yours? Who the hell are you?"

"I am Eldrborinn Borson," the figure said, stepping closer. "The Asgardian God of Fire and Smithing. Son of Borr, brother to Odin."

Alexander's jaw dropped. "You're… a god? Like Thor?"

Eldrborinn chuckled. "Thor? Yes, you could say that. Though my work was done long before his time. If you are here, it means you are one of my descendants. My blood flows through your veins."

Alexander stumbled back, his mind racing. "Wait. If I'm descended from you, then that means…" He trailed off, realization dawning on him. "I'm related to Thor. And Odin. And the rest of the Asgardians."

"You are," Eldrborinn said, his tone almost amused. "Though my name is long forgotten by the realms, I left this place as a trial—a sanctuary for my descendants who proved worthy. And now you stand before me."

Eldrborinn gestured toward the anvil. "I have waited eons for this moment. You will deliver a message to my brother, Odin, if he yet lives. You will tell him of my legacy and that I am no more."

Alexander hesitated. "Why me? I didn't ask for any of this."

Celebrimbor's voice came from behind him, calm but firm. "Because you must respect the legacy you carry. This is your ancestor, Alexander. Honor him."

Alexander sighed, nodding. "Alright. I'll do it."

Eldrborinn's molten eyes softened. "Good. Swear it. Take the oath, and this realm—and my remaining divine essence—will be yours to command."

The air around them grew heavy with expectation as Alexander placed his hand over his chest. "I swear. I'll deliver your message."

Eldrborinn smiled, his fiery form blazing brighter. "Then take what remains of me." He placed his hand on Alexander's forehead, and a searing heat coursed through Alexander's body. He screamed as the divine essence of Eldrborinn flowed into him, his very DNA beginning to change.

"You are no longer fully human," Eldrborinn said. "You are Half-Asgardian now. My power, my fire, is yours. Use it wisely."

Eldrborinn placed a glowing stone in Alexander's hand, his final message to Odin inscribed within. With a final, satisfied smile, the god of fire faded into a burst of flames, his presence disappearing entirely.

Alexander fell to his knees, clutching his head as his body burned from the inside out. His muscles grew stronger, denser, his veins pulsing with newfound power. He screamed as his hair began to change, becoming vibrant and flame-like, the strands shifting from black to deep red as though made of living fire. His eyes glowed molten gold, radiant and otherworldly.

Celebrimbor stood by, watching in silence as Alexander's transformation unfolded. Hours passed before the pain subsided, and Alexander finally stood, breathing heavily.

"You've changed," Celebrimbor said, pointing to his reflection in the molten lava nearby. "You look… exactly like him."

Alexander stared at his reflection, running a hand through his fiery hair. "Damn… that's kinda cool."

"Enough vanity," Celebrimbor snapped. "We have work to do. With this realm now yours, we have the perfect forge to create the Ring of Power."

At Celebrimbor's instruction, Alexander approached the anvil. Using his new divine abilities, he controlled the volcano's flames, making them hotter and more precise. Together, they melted the three ingots of mystical metal, combining them into a single molten mass.

Using Turann as a hammer, Alexander worked tirelessly, striking the molten metal against the anvil. With each strike, glowing Tengwar runes began to appear on the anvil and the forming ring, guided by Celebrimbor's precise instructions. The runes glowed with an otherworldly light, shaping into a circular inscription:

"I renounce the Blessed Realm. To redeem the Land of Shadow. I will bring Justice to those who have sinned. I am the Silver Hand. I am The Bright Lord."

Hours passed as the ring slowly took shape, absorbing the heat and power of the volcano itself. On the final strike, as the last piece of metal was incorporated, a massive wave of energy exploded outward, knocking both Alexander and Celebrimbor back.

When they recovered, they approached the anvil to find the ring glowing with power, its Tengwar runes shimmering brightly. Celebrimbor reached out, his voice filled with awe. "This ring… it surpasses even the greatest of my creations. Perhaps even the One Ring itself."

Alexander picked up the ring, slipping it onto his finger. A surge of energy coursed through him, his wraith connection with Celebrimbor growing stronger. Even his divine power from Eldrborinn flared to life, burning brighter than ever before.

"This…" Alexander said, his voice filled with determination. "This is the power I need. Ryan and Vanessa won't stand a chance."

Celebrimbor smiled faintly. "Then let us begin. There is much to do."

Alexander summoned his newfound divine power, the flames of the realm bending to his will. With a single thought, he opened a portal and stepped through, leaving the volcanic forge—and the legacy of Eldrborinn—behind.