Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: The Burning Yggdrasil (3)
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-Krummm—!!
An earthquake struck in the midst of their desperate sprint, forcing Kirhas and Fernandez to stumble and regain their balance. The demons pursuing them couldn't overcome their momentum and tumbled over one another in a tangled heap.
They had bought themselves a moment's respite, but Fernandez couldn't keep running. Something was wrong. His instincts screamed in warning like a mad alarm.
No, it wasn't just instinct—it was the bloodline infused with Demonica's divinity shrieking like a banshee.
His heart pounded—thump. Fernandez glared at the epicenter, Yggdrasil, and swallowed hard. Just as the shaking seemed to subside, a trumpet blast tore through the sky.
-Bwoooo—!!
A roar that threatened to shred eardrums echoed across the heavens. As the sound reverberated, Botan, bound at Fernandez's waist, murmured softly.
[That's Gjallarhorn.]
"Is that the name of the monster making this noise?"
[Monster? No, it's a horn. The horn Heimdall wields. It's said to sound when calamity befalls all of Asgard. In its long history, it's never rung even once.]
A crisis for all Asgard. A threat so immense it reached even those who had fled to safety through Bifrost. There could be no other explanation.
This was nothing less than a harbinger of Ragnarok. But they hadn't reached Yggdrasil yet. If Loft had made the first move, it was because they were too late.
Time—always the most precious, irreplaceable resource.
-Krummm!!
The earthquake swept the land once more. And with it, the black clouds blanketing the sky split apart, allowing light to pour down.
Upon the vast plain facing Yggdrasil, amid the ruined and burning earth. Sunlight began to shine. Illuminating the ground alongside the tremors—
[Bifrost is opening.]
And beneath the rainbow glow, legions revealed themselves.
* * *
The dagger that had severed Karadpellin's throat turned smoothly and pressed against Heimdall's neck. Heimdall stared down at Loft without a hint of panic.
The earthquake shook the sanctuary, crumbling the bridge leading to it. Mercury bubbled and boiled, and the once-blue sky grew feverish, taking on the hues of sunset.
[What is the meaning of this?]
"That won't cut it. Open every gate. Every single one—literally all the dimensional portals Bifrost can reach."
Loft glared at Heimdall with blazing eyes. Heimdall silently met his gaze before speaking in a grave tone.
[You and Botan had different plans all along.]
"Of course, my friend."
[Your goal... is the destruction of this world?]
"Destruction? Ha, as if. Who would wish for that? If everyone dropped dead, the boredom afterward would drive you to suicide just thinking about it."
Loft clacked his jaw and laughed. Heimdall frowned at the sight and turned his gaze to Thor, standing beside him.
[Why so silent? Are you content with this spectacle, brother?]
[I don't know.]
Thor scratched his hair roughly and sighed. He clicked his tongue and stepped back from Loki and Heimdall.
[I was just eating and living well when suddenly Ragnarok hits. Father turns on a dime, summons demons, and starts a riot. Brothers all lose their minds and head to Midgard one by one. What am I supposed to believe, brother? Have you ever been honest with me? No one told me the dragon's heart was Jormungandr's seal.]
[I... did it for everyone's sake!]
[It's sad, brother. That your 'everyone' never included me. Whatever. I've made one promise, and I'll keep it. The rest doesn't matter anymore.]
Thor shrugged. Loft chuckled at his words.
"One thing? What's that, brother?"
[There's one command Father left before falling to hell.]
"Oh, from Botan. And what was it?"
[Kill Jormungandr.]
Loft burst into laughter. The last loose end was tied.
Killing Botan's children in front of Thor would have been incredibly dangerous. The Asgardian royals generally got along well.
But even rock erodes under rain. Loft had long worked to drive wedges between them.
And now, as his efforts bore fruit, Thor no longer tried to stop him from slaying his brother.
Loft whispered to the flustered Heimdall.
"I'll take the key to Bifrost."
[Thor!! This is a misunderstanding—!]
-Shk.
Before he could finish, Loft thrust the dagger into a gap in his armor. A tingling energy seeped into his body through the blade. Blue sparks crackled and flared across his form.
Loft hummed as he withdrew the dagger. Heimdall's body twitched and shuddered.
"Such a harmonious family. Just like the gods always are."
"Once upon a time. A truly 'harmonious' household."
"Your giants' history is none of my concern, Jotun. What now?"
-Krummm!!
The earthquake ravaged the sanctuary again. The walls shattered and plummeted into the mercury lake below. Standing on ground that could collapse any moment, Loft smiled faintly without flinching.
"We buy time. The other legions haven't arrived yet. Without all the actors assembled, it's not Ragnarok."
The god of theater laughed uproariously as he spoke. Abel frowned and looked to the sky. The celestial sphere glowed with ominous sunset hues.
The red sun embedded in the heavens resembled an eye. Like the gaze of some colossal being peering down at them.
Asgardians and Jotun. Other races sacrificed in Asgard's conquests. Sadarkelia, used to avert Ragnarok. Loft and Botan, who brought about the end in trying to prevent it.
And the countless lives lost between them. The sun rippled as if mocking them. Foolish. This grand farce.
Abel turned her gaze to Karadpellin's crumbling corpse. It disintegrated, flowing into the mercury lake.
My little brother. Guardian of noble convictions. Symbol of purity. 'Celestial Dragon'...
Abel sighed and closed her eyes.
"Loki. This is the last time I'll play along with your games."
"Is there even a next time for us?"
"I hope not. Or I'll kill you for sure."
Abel opened her eyes. Beneath her blue gaze, azure flames seemed to blaze. She growled low and slow.
"I'll buy the time. You do your part."
"Haha, Lindbrum. As you command."
Loft bowed exaggeratedly and slapped Thor's back. The two soon vanished through Bifrost's gate. Abel sighed deeply once more and took a step forward.
Her foot rose slowly over the flowing mercury lake. And—
-Krummm!!!
A dragon took to the skies.
* * *
-Krum.
Clouds tore open, revealing scarlet skies beyond. Like red wounds on black skin. The heavens burned.
Fernandez raced toward Yggdrasil, steadying his ragged breath.
The closer the demonic presence grew, the harder his heart pounded, making breathing labored.
-Impressive. Most of the demons are getting crushed.
'These ones are like fresh recruits in military terms. No match for Sadarkelia's main force in the abyss.'
Feizashi looked around in admiration. The giant forces that had crossed through Bifrost's gate deployed across the plain, pulverizing the rebelling demons.
Legions of Jotun and Helheim. No newborn demons freshly spawned and sent to the abyss could stand against the elites of a millennium-old grudge.
They had earned a brief breather. Now that they had arrived, contacting Loft would let events unfold naturally.
Loft and Botan's plan hinged on drawing as many forces from other worlds to Yggdrasil as possible. Victory or defeat rested solely on their abilities.
Fernandez finally relaxed his shoulders. They had made it in time. His condition wasn't perfect, but he had endured far worse, anytime, anywhere.
"Kirhas."
"Yes, my liege."
Kirhas smiled with exhaustion plain on her face. He reached out to stroke her hair.
In that instant, goosebumps erupted along his outstretched arm and the back of his hand, his spine stiffening rigidly.
'What is it?'
Fernandez whipped his head around. No sound, no presence... just his senses screaming warnings. Don't stay here. You can't stay here...
"Kirhas. Do you feel it?"
In the realm of instinct, she was the one he trusted most. He believed in her innate sense for victory. As he turned to her—
Kirhas still gazed at the plain, smiling wearily.
"Kirhas?"
No sound, no presence. Yet tension surged, chills prickling, nape rigid.
"Kirhas."
No sound, no presence. Not the winter wind, not the din of battle, not rustling leaves. Not even Kirhas right beside him.
And then, like cracking glass. Fissures appeared in his vision. Black haze shimmered, distorting everything he saw, slow and steady.
The vast plain, the distant battlefield. Even mighty Yggdrasil.
'Damn it.'
-The petrifying gaze...
Demidraco eyes wield the petrifying gaze. Not true stone, but like a snake fixating prey. Freezing the target's flesh.
And Sadarkelia was mother to all Demidraco. Her eyes...
Could petrify even time.
In halted time, Fernandez stiffly turned toward the tree.
Vast Yggdrasil, more backdrop than living thing, a world-ash dividing the horizon. At its distant crown—
-Xhiii—
A massive red eye blazed like embers, staring down at him.
"Sadark...elia..."
With his groan, Yggdrasil ignited. Without heat or wind, of its own accord. From branches stretching to the horizon to the roots at his feet.
Yggdrasil, more backdrop than fixture. The sight made it seem as if the world itself burned.