Skathi’s memory of her resurrection was foggy, having met Odin again only half-conscious.
“Skathi, my loyal friend and subject.”
Skathi initially thought that she was just dreaming again. The other Celestials’ betrayal had exhausted her enough for Fenrir to devour her. Even though Celestials were called fancy names like immortals, she knew that death was still their true demise. After all, she had experienced it herself.
“Skathi, can you hear me? Please answer me if you can.”
It didn’t take her long to realize that she wasn’t hallucinating.
“I, the great king of the Aesir, stand above all Celestials. I reign over our world and galaxy. The day I stand at the summit will eventually come.”
Odin, Skathi’s king, was alive! Skathi was indescribably enraptured. Long ago, Odin had once come back from death already. In an attempt to acquire great knowledge, he sacrificed himself before Yggdrasil and obtained unchallengeable power. When he returned to the land of the living, he became a Celestial King.
It seemed Odin had done it again. Skathi couldn’t even begin to fathom how supreme the level Odin had reached after going through two deaths and resurrections.
“And I’m the person you chose as your king. Allow me to ask you once more. Can you hear me, Skathi? If so, answer my call.”
Skathi wished to stand beside Odin again. Believing that Odin was Bestla’s rightful heir, she abandoned <Jotunheim> and her identity as a Frost Giant to join <Asgard> and become an Asynja[1]. To her, only Odin had the legitimacy and capability to continue and surpass Bestla’s great accomplishments!
Skathi’s days with Odin had been so glorious that she had believed that <Asgard> would be eternal. However, other Celestials couldn’t just sit still and watch a great being come to life. Hence, just like Bestla, they betrayed Odin, leading to his downfall. Even <Niflheim> turned its back on him in the end.
As <Extinction> fell on them, Skathi promised never to give those damn Celestials any consideration if she were given a second chance at life. She would burn and trample over everything in her path and build an eternal <Asgard> castle on top of the remains.
Offered that very chance she desired, she grabbed the hand of the person who broke through the darkness to reach her. Like a person swimming to the surface from the depths of the ocean, Skathi rose again from the <Star Grave>.
“It's great to meet all of you once more, my dearest friends and subjects.”
Skathi wasn’t the only one by Odin’s side. Thor, Baldur, Tyr, Heimdall, Sif, Sigyn... All of her comrades, people whom she had fought alongside during their conquest, were there.
“We’ll burn down, trample over, and tear the world apart. That is how we’re going to build a lofty fortress no one would dare attack,” Odin told all his subjects. “We’re not the old <Asgard> anymore. Rather than dwelling on our former glory, we should start all over again...”
In some ways, Odin looked to be lamenting about his humble present, but Skathi and her comrades’ hearts pounding hard nonetheless. They believed that they would do much better than before if they started over.
“We’re going to do this step by step. Our progress may look slow now, but we have to be patient enough to avoid repeating our mistakes. ”
Odin’s every word had power. [Wordwielding]. It was his magic—no, his divine magic that turned his words into magic spells, turning them into reality.
“However, at the end of it all, we will have everything below our feet! <Heaven>, the Great Universe, and... those who arrogantly look down at us from above!”
Skathi trembled in excitement, having noticed that Odin wasn’t just declaring to take over one Worldline. She and the others believed Worldline #801 to be their entire world, but Odin looked further beyond and above!
“So march. Show the Aesir’s greatness to everyone else in the world.”
As commanded, Skathi and every other Aesir sprang into action.
“... So that was what happened.”
Skathi stopped daydreaming when she heard a voice, finding Chang-Sun standing in front of her with his [Gnostic Eye] wide open. Seeing him not only reminded her of the defeat she suffered at his hands while fighting Bergelmir but also made her forget about Odin’s warning to run if she ran into Chang-Sun.
Skathi clenched her teeth, looking at the rune chains binding her and keeping her divine power sealed. “What... have you done to me?”
Although she didn’t know much about rune magic, she had observed Odin use it enough to learn a bit about it. Using that knowledge, she examined the chains.
Soon her jaw fell a little. ‘Divine Steel chains... Did he analyze the <Underworld>’s Celestial restriction device and materialize it using runes?’
If she was right, then Chang-Sun had just accomplished an incredible feat. Cloning the composition of Divine Steel into runes alone was preposterous, considering that would allow him to tie up other Celestials and render them powerless too.
‘... Odin is right. Twilight is never less skilled than him.’
Chang-Sun seemed to have read all of her memories using his [Gnostic Eye] as well.
“I read your memories about Odin. He suddenly vanished, so I was wondering what he’s been up to lately,” he said. “I never imagined him to do this while I was drowning in sweat, though. Is he collecting verses of [Bestla’s Poem]?”
He wasn’t sure what magic Odin had used, but his memory also seemed to have been preserved despite the Rollback loop, just like Chang-Sun’s. Regardless, Odin had accomplished a lot since then. He had even extracted soul ingredients from the <Star Grave> and gotten his old subjects’ identities from his memory to revive them.
Considering his skill was at the level of Creation and his gnosis was so high that it was much more advanced now than during his prime, he had to be quite close to reaching the level of Emperors now. However, considering he started collecting [Bestla’s Poem] and was actively choosing to focus on one thing at a time, even he seemed to have found completely reviving <Asgard> burdening.
‘Odin thinks he’s still not strong enough,’ Chang-Sun speculated.
Considering Odin referred to Emperors as the skies beyond the skies, it likely required more preparations to become one.
‘If <Muspelheim> had verses of [Bestla’s Poem], <Jotunheim> and Niflheim> must have some too.’
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ discusses with his people that they should increase their security to prepare against the invasion of the Celestial ‘Cane-Holding Father of Warriors.’]
J?rmungandr seemed to be on the same page as Chang-Sun. Considering Skathi had singlehandedly overwhelmed Bergelmir, it was hard to fathom how powerful she could be if she had other <Asgard> Celestials with her.
Chang-Sun had to know what Odin was doing and where he was right now. That was the only way to prevent him from interrupting his work. Unfortunately, the memories that he had read didn’t include Odin’s location—no, it would be more accurate to say that the memory containing that information was locked.
‘Did Odin do this to stop anyone from finding out about him? He’s certainly meticulous.’
Hence, he considered bearing down on Skathi harder. He would interrogate her until he could get at least the gist of Odin’s situation.
“I’ll hand it to you. You’re the most thorough person I’ve ever met, and... you truly are Odin’s reincarnation.” Skathi’s eyes coldly gleamed as she looked at Chang-Sun. “That’s why I won’t repeat this mistake next time.”
Next time? Chang-Sun believed that Skathi wouldn’t be able to run wild because all her divine power was sealed, but she could still have something under her sleeve. Before he could use [Wordwielding] to stop her from doing anything, blood spilled out of her mouth.
Chang-Sun’s face crumpled. Skathi had killed herself by destroying her own Divine Class.
“See you... again,” Skathi mumbled.
Pzzz―!
She disintegrated into particles and disappeared.
[The Celestial ‘Black Forest Hunter’ has died!]
Dumbfounded, Chang-Sun chuckled. He had believed that sealing her divine power to stop her from using her abilities would be enough to keep her from causing him trouble. Unfortunately, no one could have expected her to waste her new life just like that.
Her mention of next time made it seem like she believed that Odin would revive her again, but since there was no knowing how things would turn out in the future, how could Skathi make such a choice at the risk of her irreversible death? Chang-Sun couldn’t even begin to fathom how loyal she was to Odin.
‘Becoming his enemy will be a headache,’ Chang-Sun speculated.
He hadn’t been too worried about Odin before because he believed their goals aligned, but this encounter with Skathi made him realize that that might not be the case.
* * *
Chang-Sun walked over to Bergelmir, who was panting hard, as he sorted out his thoughts.
『Huff... Huff...』
Bergelmir was still alive, but he was already in critical condition before Kang Chan arrived. The chance of resuscitating him was low.
“Bergelmir,” Chang-Sun said.
『Ha... Haha... Look who it is... I see the greenhorn king... Of <Muspelheim> is here... Are you here to... laugh at my pathetic end...?』
Bergelmir hadn’t changed at all since their last encounter, choosing not to hide his scorn as he flaunted his sharp tongue.
Chang-Sun knew that this was merely Bergelmir’s defense mechanism, though. In contrast to <Muspelheim>, which had undergone a radiant revival, <Jotunheim> had fallen so far that barely anyone could maintain their identity anymore. Being trapped in such a place alone would surely make anyone think and behave like Bergelmir.
“No, I’m not. I respect you.”
Unlike the other Frost Giants, Bergelmir maintained his identity. He was probably very proud of himself as the <Jotunheim> King.
Bergelmir rolled his eyes. 『You... respect me? Ha! You have got to be kidding me...』
“I mean it. You tried to protect <Jotunheim> until the bitter end, believing that it was your duty as its king. If I were in your position, I don’t know if I could have done the same.”
Bergelmir glared at Chang-Sun, trying hard not to pant.
Bergelmir glared at Chang-Sun, trying hard not to pant. 『... Get to the point. What are you trying to say?』
As his end drew nearer, he chose to spend his last moments showing his dignity as a king.
“Your throne,” Chang-Sun said.
『I told you that it’s min—!』
“Would you rather <Jotunheim> disappear? If you truly are a king, then uphold your responsibilities as one.”
Bergelmir knew very well what his responsibility was. Bestla and the previous <Jotunheim> King used to tell him about it over and over before his death.
“A king should be able to provide solace and peace to their people. They are to bring their country glory and prosperity. If difficult times have made those impossible, then they should make preparations so their descendants can continue their legacy.”
Even if Bergelmir were to die right now, he should still ensure the safety of his country and people. He had to serve as the foundation that would allow them to rise again.
『Surtr... chose... a good heir...』 Bergelmir shut his eyes. 『Maybe... it was fate... that I met you... another Odin... King Bestla’s...』After muttering to himself, Bergelmir slowly opened his determined eyes. 『I...!』
1. A female Aesir. ?
Skathi’s memory of her resurrection was foggy, having met Odin again only half-conscious.
“Skathi, my loyal friend and subject.”
Skathi initially thought that she was just dreaming again. The other Celestials’ betrayal had exhausted her enough for Fenrir to devour her. Even though Celestials were called fancy names like immortals, she knew that death was still their true demise. After all, she had experienced it herself.
“Skathi, can you hear me? Please answer me if you can.”
It didn’t take her long to realize that she wasn’t hallucinating.
“I, the great king of the Aesir, stand above all Celestials. I reign over our world and galaxy. The day I stand at the summit will eventually come.”
Odin, Skathi’s king, was alive! Skathi was indescribably enraptured. Long ago, Odin had once come back from death already. In an attempt to acquire great knowledge, he sacrificed himself before Yggdrasil and obtained unchallengeable power. When he returned to the land of the living, he became a Celestial King.
It seemed Odin had done it again. Skathi couldn’t even begin to fathom how supreme the level Odin had reached after going through two deaths and resurrections.
“And I’m the person you chose as your king. Allow me to ask you once more. Can you hear me, Skathi? If so, answer my call.”
Skathi wished to stand beside Odin again. Believing that Odin was Bestla’s rightful heir, she abandoned <Jotunheim> and her identity as a Frost Giant to join <Asgard> and become an Asynja[1]. To her, only Odin had the legitimacy and capability to continue and surpass Bestla’s great accomplishments!
Skathi’s days with Odin had been so glorious that she had believed that <Asgard> would be eternal. However, other Celestials couldn’t just sit still and watch a great being come to life. Hence, just like Bestla, they betrayed Odin, leading to his downfall. Even <Niflheim> turned its back on him in the end.
As <Extinction> fell on them, Skathi promised never to give those damn Celestials any consideration if she were given a second chance at life. She would burn and trample over everything in her path and build an eternal <Asgard> castle on top of the remains.
Offered that very chance she desired, she grabbed the hand of the person who broke through the darkness to reach her. Like a person swimming to the surface from the depths of the ocean, Skathi rose again from the <Star Grave>.
“It's great to meet all of you once more, my dearest friends and subjects.”
Skathi wasn’t the only one by Odin’s side. Thor, Baldur, Tyr, Heimdall, Sif, Sigyn... All of her comrades, people whom she had fought alongside during their conquest, were there.
“We’ll burn down, trample over, and tear the world apart. That is how we’re going to build a lofty fortress no one would dare attack,” Odin told all his subjects. “We’re not the old <Asgard> anymore. Rather than dwelling on our former glory, we should start all over again...”
In some ways, Odin looked to be lamenting about his humble present, but Skathi and her comrades’ hearts pounding hard nonetheless. They believed that they would do much better than before if they started over.
“We’re going to do this step by step. Our progress may look slow now, but we have to be patient enough to avoid repeating our mistakes. ”
Odin’s every word had power. [Wordwielding]. It was his magic—no, his divine magic that turned his words into magic spells, turning them into reality.
“However, at the end of it all, we will have everything below our feet! <Heaven>, the Great Universe, and... those who arrogantly look down at us from above!”
Skathi trembled in excitement, having noticed that Odin wasn’t just declaring to take over one Worldline. She and the others believed Worldline #801 to be their entire world, but Odin looked further beyond and above!
“So march. Show the Aesir’s greatness to everyone else in the world.”
As commanded, Skathi and every other Aesir sprang into action.
“... So that was what happened.”
Skathi stopped daydreaming when she heard a voice, finding Chang-Sun standing in front of her with his [Gnostic Eye] wide open. Seeing him not only reminded her of the defeat she suffered at his hands while fighting Bergelmir but also made her forget about Odin’s warning to run if she ran into Chang-Sun.
Skathi clenched her teeth, looking at the rune chains binding her and keeping her divine power sealed. “What... have you done to me?”
Although she didn’t know much about rune magic, she had observed Odin use it enough to learn a bit about it. Using that knowledge, she examined the chains.
Soon her jaw fell a little. ‘Divine Steel chains... Did he analyze the <Underworld>’s Celestial restriction device and materialize it using runes?’
If she was right, then Chang-Sun had just accomplished an incredible feat. Cloning the composition of Divine Steel into runes alone was preposterous, considering that would allow him to tie up other Celestials and render them powerless too.
‘... Odin is right. Twilight is never less skilled than him.’
Chang-Sun seemed to have read all of her memories using his [Gnostic Eye] as well.
“I read your memories about Odin. He suddenly vanished, so I was wondering what he’s been up to lately,” he said. “I never imagined him to do this while I was drowning in sweat, though. Is he collecting verses of [Bestla’s Poem]?”
He wasn’t sure what magic Odin had used, but his memory also seemed to have been preserved despite the Rollback loop, just like Chang-Sun’s. Regardless, Odin had accomplished a lot since then. He had even extracted soul ingredients from the <Star Grave> and gotten his old subjects’ identities from his memory to revive them.
Considering his skill was at the level of Creation and his gnosis was so high that it was much more advanced now than during his prime, he had to be quite close to reaching the level of Emperors now. However, considering he started collecting [Bestla’s Poem] and was actively choosing to focus on one thing at a time, even he seemed to have found completely reviving <Asgard> burdening.
‘Odin thinks he’s still not strong enough,’ Chang-Sun speculated.
Considering Odin referred to Emperors as the skies beyond the skies, it likely required more preparations to become one.
‘If <Muspelheim> had verses of [Bestla’s Poem], <Jotunheim> and Niflheim> must have some too.’
[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ discusses with his people that they should increase their security to prepare against the invasion of the Celestial ‘Cane-Holding Father of Warriors.’]
J?rmungandr seemed to be on the same page as Chang-Sun. Considering Skathi had singlehandedly overwhelmed Bergelmir, it was hard to fathom how powerful she could be if she had other <Asgard> Celestials with her.
Chang-Sun had to know what Odin was doing and where he was right now. That was the only way to prevent him from interrupting his work. Unfortunately, the memories that he had read didn’t include Odin’s location—no, it would be more accurate to say that the memory containing that information was locked.
‘Did Odin do this to stop anyone from finding out about him? He’s certainly meticulous.’
Hence, he considered bearing down on Skathi harder. He would interrogate her until he could get at least the gist of Odin’s situation.
“I’ll hand it to you. You’re the most thorough person I’ve ever met, and... you truly are Odin’s reincarnation.” Skathi’s eyes coldly gleamed as she looked at Chang-Sun. “That’s why I won’t repeat this mistake next time.”
Next time? Chang-Sun believed that Skathi wouldn’t be able to run wild because all her divine power was sealed, but she could still have something under her sleeve. Before he could use [Wordwielding] to stop her from doing anything, blood spilled out of her mouth.
Chang-Sun’s face crumpled. Skathi had killed herself by destroying her own Divine Class.
“See you... again,” Skathi mumbled.
Pzzz―!
She disintegrated into particles and disappeared.
[The Celestial ‘Black Forest Hunter’ has died!]
Dumbfounded, Chang-Sun chuckled. He had believed that sealing her divine power to stop her from using her abilities would be enough to keep her from causing him trouble. Unfortunately, no one could have expected her to waste her new life just like that.
Her mention of next time made it seem like she believed that Odin would revive her again, but since there was no knowing how things would turn out in the future, how could Skathi make such a choice at the risk of her irreversible death? Chang-Sun couldn’t even begin to fathom how loyal she was to Odin.
‘Becoming his enemy will be a headache,’ Chang-Sun speculated.
He hadn’t been too worried about Odin before because he believed their goals aligned, but this encounter with Skathi made him realize that that might not be the case.
* * *
Chang-Sun walked over to Bergelmir, who was panting hard, as he sorted out his thoughts.
『Huff... Huff...』
Bergelmir was still alive, but he was already in critical condition before Kang Chan arrived. The chance of resuscitating him was low.
“Bergelmir,” Chang-Sun said.
『Ha... Haha... Look who it is... I see the greenhorn king... Of <Muspelheim> is here... Are you here to... laugh at my pathetic end...?』
Bergelmir hadn’t changed at all since their last encounter, choosing not to hide his scorn as he flaunted his sharp tongue.
Chang-Sun knew that this was merely Bergelmir’s defense mechanism, though. In contrast to <Muspelheim>, which had undergone a radiant revival, <Jotunheim> had fallen so far that barely anyone could maintain their identity anymore. Being trapped in such a place alone would surely make anyone think and behave like Bergelmir.
“No, I’m not. I respect you.”
Unlike the other Frost Giants, Bergelmir maintained his identity. He was probably very proud of himself as the <Jotunheim> King.
Bergelmir rolled his eyes. 『You... respect me? Ha! You have got to be kidding me...』
“I mean it. You tried to protect <Jotunheim> until the bitter end, believing that it was your duty as its king. If I were in your position, I don’t know if I could have done the same.”
Bergelmir glared at Chang-Sun, trying hard not to pant.
Bergelmir glared at Chang-Sun, trying hard not to pant. 『... Get to the point. What are you trying to say?』
As his end drew nearer, he chose to spend his last moments showing his dignity as a king.
“Your throne,” Chang-Sun said.
『I told you that it’s min—!』
“Would you rather <Jotunheim> disappear? If you truly are a king, then uphold your responsibilities as one.”
Bergelmir knew very well what his responsibility was. Bestla and the previous <Jotunheim> King used to tell him about it over and over before his death.
“A king should be able to provide solace and peace to their people. They are to bring their country glory and prosperity. If difficult times have made those impossible, then they should make preparations so their descendants can continue their legacy.”
Even if Bergelmir were to die right now, he should still ensure the safety of his country and people. He had to serve as the foundation that would allow them to rise again.
『Surtr... chose... a good heir...』 Bergelmir shut his eyes. 『Maybe... it was fate... that I met you... another Odin... King Bestla’s...』After muttering to himself, Bergelmir slowly opened his determined eyes. 『I...!』
1. A female Aesir. ?
