Hell Giants of Niflheim

The moment I devoured the Flame Giant Chieftain’s essence, the familiar system message rang out.

Eternal Flame was a radial skill, much like Lightning Inferno. I had obtained it in my previous life, but my mana pool back then wasn’t high enough to use it aggressively. This second run would be different. I also possessed Rene Davis’s signature technique, Fusion Qigong. I was already imagining what kind of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠skill might emerge if I fused Eternal Flame with Lightning Inferno.

The thought alone made my lips curl into a faint smile. Since I had used Fusion Qigong recently and triggered its cooldown, I would have to wait before testing the fusion of two spells that shared the common trait of “wide-area projection.”

“You really cleaned house all by yourself,” Ellen said, arriving a step too late and mopping up the remaining stragglers.

“You handled the cleanup for me earlier,” I replied.

“That lightning storm of yours should’ve been more than enough to finish them.”

“Ugh, give me a break. I’m only human, you know.”

I finally found a patch of ground untouched by lava and sank down onto it. Controlling Hundred Hands through Black Wisdom while simultaneously maintaining Grace of Gluttony had drained me far more than I expected. The mana cost was already monstrous; it felt like trying to muzzle a rampaging bull, steer it in the right direction, and then force it to sprint.

My remaining mana sat just below one-third. Still, it was an amount most players could never hope to match. That didn’t make the bone-deep exhaustion any easier to ignore.

The corpses of the Flame Giants lay scattered across the summit. I had already filled the essence gauge to 100 percent, but Devour’s additional effects still granted stat bonuses from complete consumption. I intended to swallow every last one.

“Mr. Yu, can’t you turn those bodies into undead?” Ellen asked.

“Like the drake, you mean?”

“Yeah. You said you rode it around instead of a helicopter.”

“I did. For a single day, anyway.”

Ellen pointed at the volcanic giant’s corpse.

“An undead giant would be huge. I figured it might serve as emergency firepower.”

Hmm. Giant corpses weren’t exactly easy to come by. They occasionally appeared as wall-like obstacles while climbing the Tower, but there was no way to extract the undead I created inside trials. Hauling actual bodies required an enormous spatial inventory. Even the Pocket of Desire would probably only let me salvage the heads.

“It’s a good idea,” I admitted.

Sending them to the uninhabited island like the Bone Drake and summoning them when needed could work perfectly.

『Have you summoned me, Master?』

“Can you turn these Flame Giant corpses into undead?”

『It is possible.』

“Is there another problem?”

『Your insight is truly astonishing, Master. To notice that a problem exists at all…』

Your tone already gave it away, you know. Flattery like that loses its punch when it’s so obvious.

I gave my chin a light flick. Ark took the hint and elaborated.

『My abilities have weakened compared to when I was alive. While I can create undead, controlling them presents difficulties.』

“That’s not a big deal.”

The time had finally come to put this guy to work. Cry for me, Hellblade… No, Frost Sword of the Lich Lord!

The demonic blade I had stored for a long time inside Expanding Stomach suddenly jutted out from between my widely opened jaws. A long hilt emerged first, followed by a chilling blue blade that radiated cold.

It was the Frost Sword, the reward I obtained after defeating the Archlich Lord.

“I got this from killing you, by the way.”

『I am a separate existence reborn from Master’s essence.』

Teasing him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was no fun at all.

I handed the Frost Sword of the Lich Lord to Ark.

“How is it?”

『It has improved my capabilities, yet it is still insufficient.』

Don’t worry. There’s still one more card left to play.

The Epic-grade artifact I had tucked away in the Pocket of Desire—the Throne of the Indomitable King. Its effect only activated while seated, but the penalty was matched by equally certain results.

“Sit.”

Ark settled onto the Throne of the Indomitable King. The blue glow in his eyes deepened noticeably.

『Uuuuuuuuuum!』

“Feeling motivated now?”

『With the artifacts Master has bestowed, I can control them successfully.』

“Then let’s begin.”

Eerie dark mana flowed from the Frost Sword, staining the ground pitch black. It surged upward like a massive wave and crashed over the Flame Giants.

『Flash Golems would normally be the optimal choice.』

The dark mana, roiling like a tide, forced its way into every wound and orifice on the giants’ bodies. Countless runes were being inscribed inside the corpses. I lacked deep knowledge of necromancy, so I could only sense that some kind of transformation was occurring. One thing was certain: this process differed slightly from ordinary necromancy.

Crack. Craaaack.

Even in death the Flame Giants had continued radiating heat, but now pure white frost bloomed across their flesh. The clash between cold and heat produced a violent hiss as steam billowed upward. The mountaintop transformed into something resembling a wet sauna.

The victor of that fierce internal battle was the cold forged from dark mana. White energy poured from every wound, freezing the corpses solid. A blue current flickered in their eyes. With a sharp crack, the ice shattered, and the now-cerulean giants rose to their feet.

Oh ho.

These things were stronger than the original Flame Giants?

『Allow me to introduce the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hell Giants.』

“Judging by your naming sense, I’m guessing they’re connected to the deceased of Niflheim?”

『Correct.』

First Hell Knights, now Hell Giants. The names lacked creativity, but I could accept them. Ark was a monster empowered by the goddess Hel, ruler of Niflheim. As I had mentioned earlier, although the original bodies were dead, their essences still pulsed vividly within me. Void Projection manifested the original forms tied to those essences. The power and knowledge Hel had infused during the trial remained fully intact.

『Even borrowing the artifact’s power, it is taxing.』

“How many more can you control?”

『I believe I can manage up to twenty, but stabilization will take time after creation.』

“I can’t give you long.”

『Ten minutes per entity will suffice.』

That meant a little over three hours. Even after defeating the boss, there was usually several hours of grace time before the gate closed.

“Fine. I’ll wait that long.”

『This servant shall exert every effort in gratitude for my lord’s generosity.』

“Mr. Yu, can I head out first and take a shower?” Ellen asked.

“Sure. My party is waiting outside, so explain the situation to them, will you?”

“Let’s call it even for helping with the gate raid.”

Ellen waved her hand dismissively and threw herself into the wormhole leading outside.

It felt like I was getting off cheap, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her suggestion had triggered a useful shift in my thinking, so I’d let it slide.

The summit was now packed with blue-skinned giants. Having discarded their identity as creatures of flame, the Hell Giants—armed instead with the cold of Hell—flashed their glowing eyes.

『Huuuuuuuuu.』

“Will it hold?”

『With my current abilities, merely maintaining the Hell Giants is the limit.』

“As long as they don’t bare their fangs, it’s fine.”

『It seems I will need to travel with them to the Bone Drakes’ location before performing stabilization work.』

Twenty Hell Giants to transport. Looked like I’d have to rent another cargo ship.

–That servant of yours won’t be summonable for a while, either.

“Can’t be helped.”

Sailing from New York to Korea took a little over a month. During that period, Ark would be out of commission.

“Go ahead.”

The instant Nyx finished manifesting, Jiyoung grabbed her by the right arm.

“Let’s go already! We have to enjoy every last second!”

“Your impatience is truly something to behold.”

“It’s because of a certain guild master that I’ve barely gotten to play at all.”

Jiyoung, what exactly are you trying to say?

We didn’t come to New York to play around.

Worried I might change my mind, Jiyoung practically dragged Nyx away. Watching them disappear, I couldn’t help feeling like a ruthless employer.

“At your level, Mr. Yu, you’d make an excellent black-company CEO,” Ellen remarked.

“You’re joking, right?”

“Do you really think I’m joking?”

Don’t answer a question with another question.

Ellen, who had come to the lodging, tossed something at me.

“It’s beer.”

“Let’s have a drink.”

“I never said I’d drink beer.”

“If you’re not going to drink it, give it back.”

That I didn’t want.

Crack!

The crisp sound of the can tab opening sent refreshing carbonation fizzing into my ears. I’d been drinking a lot lately.

Ellen, seated across from me, raised her own can.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

I lightly clinked my can against hers in response. Drinking beer in New York—something I had never even imagined in my previous life. I was enjoying quite the luxury.

“Tastes good, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. It’s pretty decent.”

“It’s one of my favorites. I don’t share it lightly.”

“Yes, yes. I’m truly honored to be draining the liquor stash of America’s strongest player.”

“Let’s make today an anniversary and celebrate it every year.”

Ellen downed the contents in one go and crushed the can. I couldn’t lose to that. Glug, glug—the distinctive carbonation and aroma of beer stimulated my throat. Matching my drinking partner’s pace was my personal iron rule for any drinking session.

“Whoa, you’re tough.”

“Not as tough as the person who tore apart a Flame Giant.”

“That was all thanks to my blessings, really.”

“By the way, why did you suddenly choose to reveal your backer now, after hiding it all this time?”

At my question, every trace of emotion vanished from Ellen’s face.

What?

I had thrown it out casually.

“I was planning to meet you anyway. There’s something I wanted to ask.”

“Does it have to do with you gaining a backer?”

Ellen stared straight at me with eyes completely clear of any intoxication.

“Mr. Yu, do you know what happens during the third erosion?”