A Nascent Kaleidoscope

Chapter 497: part 2

Atalanta POV

"I'm starting to think we made the wrong choice."

"Quiet." I shushed Achilles, putting my hand against the branch of the tree.

"Seriously, we have no idea where we're going."

"Shush, I need to concentrate." I finally put my ear to it, the rhythmic thumping reverberated faintly. "Move two feet back."

"What?'

"Shut up and just listen to my direction, move two feet back." I hissed.

Achilles silently moved two feet back and silently waited. The branches' rhythm changed slightly.

"Turn clockwise 30 degrees."

"Half a step to the right."

"Kneel down with one knee pressing against the branch, and put your right hand eight inches to the right of it."

"Alright, you're just fucking with me now." Achilles snorted. "What're you even doing? This makes no sense."

"Obviously it doesn't make sense, this is a Magic Tree that's equivalent to Tartarus in existence, what sense do you expect it to make?" I scoffed.

"Then what're you doing?"

"An Ancient and Primordial being it may be, but it is wild and filled with nature. I met and was blessed by Pan when I was younger, it was one of the reasons I survived the wilds as a child before meeting Artemis." I answered, listening intently to the changes happening. "This place has its own rules, and the rules change as often as we breath. We must adapt, not the other way around." I was about to say something more, but then I felt something important coming. "Stab your spear backwards, now!"

Achilles, thankfully, didn't argue and summoned his spear, stabbing it behind himself.

What should have been empty space now forced his spear to stop as it was sticking from a Branch of the tree that was not there a moment prior.

It was not only that branch either, there were now quite a few that appeared, and they seemed to be leading upwards, almost like stairs.

"Okay, how." Achilles balked. "No way that some random blessing by Pan let you understand that."

"Don't look down on my skills." I snorted again, pointing at several spots of the branch we were standing on. "See those, the bark there is lighter."

"Sis, I'm looking right at it, and even after you pointed it out, I can barely tell the difference."

I rolled my eyes, lightly kicking his butt. "That means it's recently grown, as in, there has been enough traffic here that it needed to be regrown. Obviously this is a path that something or someone often takes. It was just a matter of finding the correct path from this spot."

"I'll stick to stabbing things with my spear." He grunted. "But why couldn't we see the Branches before?" He asked, hesitantly stepping up on the newly appeared one.

"It was always there, we just weren't in the right 'spot'." I shrugged. It was hard to understand the wild nature to someone who didn't experience it for themselves. The Old Nature's rules didn't coincide with regular Logic.

Both Achilles and I quickly ascended the Branches. They weren't always perfectly laid out, and it was fairly obvious they weren't intentionally a sort of staircase, but I noticed continued signs of use as many things came and went from this path.

Regardless, it wasn't worth worrying about as it was the only path 'forward' that we had at the moment.

Achilles was first to reach the 'top' so to speak, or rather where these specific branches ended. He disappeared upon stepping on the last Branch and in a small bit of worry, I moved quickly to catch up.

However, I met him standing there dumbfounded but what laid out in front of us.

It was a meadow, seemingly an entirely different world we had just stepped onto.

Clouds hung high above, and towering Branches jutted each and every way. The meadow itself stretched out far beyond what we could actually see. I would almost akin it to the Garden of Hesperides from the stories that Herakles told me.

It was..inordinately peaceful.

However, our sudden intrusion caught the attention of the current residents.

There were dozens of Deers and Does' with the most striking red fur that I've ever seen on such animals. They had all varying sizes, some ranging from something 'normal' to the size of houses. They all looked at us with clear suspicion and wariness, even if they didn't immediately run away.

I guessed that they weren't used to 'visitors'.

"Oi, Sis"

"I see them, Rider. Just.don't make any exaggerated moves and make yourself look as small as possible." I whispered.

I was unaware of what these animals actually were. The Knowledge of the Grail did not fill in every detail of the Norse part of the world.

I would not like a situation like Odysseus where I anger a God by harming or annoying one of their sacred animals.

After a few moments, a tiny Doe slowly made its way towards us, only stopping a few feet away.

I was thankful in this moment for the gift that Berserker's Master gave us, being able to store all sorts of items away so we did not have to carry them.

I produced an apple in my hand, and slowly knelt down to offer it.

The Doe, once more, slowly approached to the point where I could reach out and touch it if I so desired. It licked the apply once, looking up at me as if to ask for permission.

"Go ahead." I offered a smile.

It nipped off a piece and happily ate it, its body language changed drastically, and it was must less on guard now. Perhaps due to its perceived youth it didn't quite register the potential danger as even the others did not yet let down their guards.

But taking the opportunity, I lightly rubbed its head to show I meant no harm. I glanced to the others around and they began to slightly ease up. A predator would have taken the opportunity it was given and happily been satisfied with this bounty. The fact that I was not harming the young Doe meant I was not planning them harm to begin with.

Achilles joined me and we gently pet the young animal as it feasted upon its prize.

"Hello, little one." I greeted as it finished up, looking at me curiously. It had far too much intelligence in its eye to be treated as a 'normal' animal. It pushed its little head into me playfully.

It continued to push its head into me playfully.

"She desires another apple, if you would be so kind."

Achilles and I both stilled. We had no idea where the voice was coming from as we didn't sense the kind of presence that spoke.

"We apologize for intruding, Elder." I immediately knelt down, offering an apology, and Achilles followed suit.

There was a small chuckle, and it seemed like the world shook. "It's quite alright, child of the Wilds. If you were unwelcome, you would not have been able to come. Not even Ratatoskr can come here without my permission."

"Thank you for your benevolence" I quickly offered thanks as well. I had learned very early on in life that anything of this kind of status you needed to pay upmost respects to and stay on their good side. "Do you require anything of us, Elder?"

"No, merely my own curiosity as you approached. Forgive me, I listened in to your conversation, and it answered the questions I had. Blessed by Pan, welcome to the hidden Grove. The Wilds welcome those who respect them. Find peace and tranquility among my Children. I am Duneyrr, last of my siblings. I apologize for not showing myself, but it would be difficult in this situation."

"We are honored to be welcomed here, Elder." I answered back. "Unfortunately, we cannot indulge in your hospitality for too long, we are on a quest by the All-Father to seek the Highest Branch the King who sits upon it."

"Ah Odin." The Voice rumbled and the meadow shook one more. "All the commotion I could hear, and the painful cries that whispered upon the leaves.it seems the end is upon us. Do you seek the King above to aid you? I fear your quest will end in failure, young Wildling."

"Even so, we must see it through to the end."

"Hrsvelgr dislikes Asgard and will most likely deny any request for aid. His is arrogant, looking down upon the Nine Realms as though the conflicts below are beneath his notice. I can feel it, the Fires that come from Muspelheim move with a purpose, and the Colds of Jotunheim follow suit. Something evil creeps up from the Roots, and Death openly walks amongst the living as their enemies. Tread carefully wildling."

"Elder..would you lend your aid as well?" I hesitantly asked.

An amused sound erupted from the surroundings, something akin to a laugh but it was hard to hear as the ground shook. "I am old. I am neither God nor Jotun. Tell me, what is my spot in this conflict?"

"This is your home."

".home" The Voice said wistfully. "I am the last of my siblings. They were hunted for sport and for pleasure. My Children are in danger once they leave my protection and will suffer the same fate. Why must I align myself with those who would do them harm?" It let out a sigh. "Go, fullfill your quest then return to the lands of Gods and Jotuns to fight your battles, I will await whatever conclusion that comes. Either way, our ends will be the same."

"Coward." Achilles spat out.

My eyes widened and the ground trembled.

"What did you say.?"

"I called you a coward!" Achilles stood up, shouting.

Dammit Achilles!

We both felt the looming presence bare down on us. It's clear this thing..whatever it was, it wasn't a God, perhaps some sort of Divine Beast?

It was not to be trifled with, that was for certain.

Apparently, Achilles did not take that to heed.

All of the Deers and Does looked at us rather.angrily at this point, all except the little Doe pushingme.

"What would you know!?" The voice rumbled.

Achilles slapped his chest plate. "I willingly walked to my death in the hopes of Glory and Honor, so that my name would last for thousands of years. You..you won't even fight for your home? I call you a coward." He spat out again.

"You don't know what you're talking about." The Voice said dismissively.

"This isn't even my home. I'm Greek." Achilles snorted. "But I was asked to help. Make any excuses you want, deny it, it doesn't matter. I'll be going to save your home in your stead while you cower away here and everything you know turns to ash."

"This is all we have left!"

"Then fight for it!" Achilles shouted back, throwing his arm out angrily. "You're sitting here while your entire world is being destroyed when you can do something! And instead, you're whining that you're the only one left? What's the point in even lasting this long if you're just going to sit here and die because you're too much of a coward to fight for your right to live?!"

The entity, whatever it was, it roared something intelligible, the ground beneath us shook more violently than ever, yet Achilles stood impassibly with his words.

It quieted down a few moments later.

Achilles snorted disdainfully. "Come on, Sis. Let's go and do actually something useful. We have a job to do that involves saving this place."

I let out a sigh. It's not like I didn't understand Achilles' standpoint, but I supposed it just struck his nerves more than it did myself. I couldn't understand sitting and watching as my whole world came burning down around me.

This person just seemed..defeated and waiting for death. Perhaps that's why Achilles' was pissed off, he hated when other people give up before they even try.

"Leave, this grove no longer welcomes you." The Voice rumbled.

"I apologize for my companion." I bowed my head towards where I believe the voice originated. There was no need to be additionally rude. As I was about to leave, the young Doe grabbed onto my skirt with her mouth. "Child, I must leave. Here, you may have one more." I handed over another apple to satiate it, but it didn't even look at the treat and continued to pull on my skirt.

It made some sounds, and I could not understand what it wanted.

"..you are young, you know not what you are speaking."

The Doe held its head up, and made more of its immature noises, almost defiantly.

The voice let out a tired sign, vibrating throughout the ground. "Very well. Child of the wilds, I will make a path for you towards the Top Branch, my youngest will also be your guide. The King above will atleast not be hostile if he sees you with my child. This is the only aid I will give you."

"Thank you for your assistance, Elder." I bowed my head once more. "Any help you provide is greatly appreciated." Because frankly, it was going to be a headache to keep moving upwards if this was the kind of thing we had to constantly do.

I questioned what It meant by opening a path, I thought, perhaps he would create a literal pathway from this grove of his.but no.

The Branches, the towering Branches that looked to be great trees themselves that pierced the very clouds, they trembled and moved.

Moss and Bark shook off, ancient vines that wrapped around them fell off as they slowly began to move to the side. And from underneath the foliage, a white hue shined through.

..the reason we couldn't sense nor find the being speaking to us.we were standing on its body. The towering trees and branches, they were its horns.

I could picture it from another view, this was it tilting its head to allow us to move upwards.

Achilles also swallowed as he realized who he was chastising only moments prior.

The little Doe didn't seem to mind whatsoever and impatiently tugged on my skirt. I decided it was a wise decision to leave as quickly as possible.

[***]

The red Doe galloped across the tree branches, and I would almost mistake it for a mount goat the way it hoped from one branch to another.

It was able to keep a speed that required us to be mindful of.

The further we went, the more I realized what was meant by the 'highest branch'.

The sky was no longer an indication of height. We had long passed the clouds and still continued upwards. It was as if we were ascending Olympus itself with the Constellations lighting our way amongst the stars.

I realized we were close when one a stray bird flocked away, leaving behind a feather in its haste.

It was the first time I had seen a bird during our ascension.

The Doe did not bother with it and continued on, moving quickly through the brush and branches. Leaves became more apparent and thicker with each passing moment.

More and more birds began to appear. There was no defining type either, it seems like Birds from every corner of the world were represented here.

Most of them looked..normal and without that hint of intelligence to them that the Doe had, but every so often there was one or two that looked startled and surprised to see us and not just an instinctual reaction.

"Intruders, Invaders!" A squawk resounded from within the thicket.

"Intruders!"

"Invaders!"

"Intruders!"

"Invaders!"

The myriad of voices echoed the words.

The Doe besides us let out its own noises as if to speak in our defense, but it was drowned out in the shouts of the Birds above our heads.

"Alert the King!"

"Alert the King!"

"Alert the King!"

"Stop the Invaders!"

"Stop the Invaders!"

"Stop the Invaders!"

The Birds all flew away, except a large shadow loomed overhead. The starlight that illuminated the area was blocked by large wings.

"Trespassers will be dealt with swift!" The Bird's voice boomed, and Feathers shot down from the sky. They were like arrows, piercing into the ground as I grabbed the Doe to dodge out of the way.

"Oi, we're not invaders!" Achilles shouted back. "I'm gonna get mad real soon!"

"The King's Orders, Invaders are dealt with swiftly!" I barely got a look at it now, it was definitely a Large Eagle overhead, and many more of its kind joined in.

They all flapped their wings, the winds carried upon their wings wewaponizing their own feathers, shooting down towards us.

I set the Doe down and summoned upon my bow, pulling back the Bowstring.

I met each of theirs with an arrow of mine.

I leapt up the branches until I was above the immediate canopy. Pulling my bow string back, I pushed more Magical Energy into my next Arrows. They soared through the air, destroying any obstacles in their way and struck their targets true.

The wings of the Eagles were pierced, and they fell to the ground.

It wouldn't be something they couldn't heal from, but I was with Achilles and annoyed that they immediately struck first.

Achilles was alright upon them, spear pressed against what appeared to be the leader's neck.

"Right, how about we do this again." Achilles said in clear annoyance. "Hey, how's it going. We were here to talk to your King. We didn't invade, we simply walked up here and didn't have a chance to say anything before you started attacking."

"It doesn't matter, all trespassers are to be killed." The Eagle didn't back down despite the spear to its neck.

It wasn't until the Doe came running out that the tension eased a little and the Eagle looked at it in confusion.

"One of Duneyrr's?" The Eagle looked in confusion. "What are you doing up here?" There was a certain.amicableness when associated with the Doe.

"That's what I would like to know." A Voice carried upon the winds, and it felt similar to the one below when he spoke. Rather than being on top of him and shaking the ground, this time, it seemed like the very air vibrated with the words.

The stars in the sky were blotted out as a shadow filled the sky.

We were told that the King of the Highest Branch was large.

That description did not do him justice.

A single one of its talons could have rended the ship we flew here on asunder. Its body was larger than the Giant we met in the previous battle. And its wingspan was easily three to four times that in length.

Hrsvelgr was here.

[***]

Thorum POV

"Lady Jinn, are you sure this is the correct way!?" I held onto the mast of the ship as we were on hurled downwards into a black abyss.

"Nope!" She answered back with a cackle.

"It was kind of Wilhelm to leave us the Ship." Sasaki Kojiro stood there with a smile on his face. How he did not fear for his safety, I did not know.

"Aye, I only wish he was here to..control it." I forced a smile. Lady Jinn was a magnificent woman and I enjoyed her company, but..I do not believe she should be left in control of such things.

"I'm not controlling it!" Jinn shouted. "When the Captain is gone, the First Mate is in charge!" She pointed to Wilhelm's Rabbit sitting on the front of the ship along with his mate.

"..I am questioning my decisions."

"Don't think about it too much." He pat my shoulder. "Instead, we should worry about those things." He pointed up in the distance.

The light was lacking here, but there was enough to vaguely make out the red hue of a group of creatures approaching.

"They look like bats?" I tilted my head.

"Yup, big ol bats." Jinn agreed.

"Hoh" Sasaki unsheathed his sword and jumped to the bow of the ship, holding it up. His blade flashed out with such skill that the flying creatures had their wings cut clean off, and their bodies landed upon the deck.

"Eww." Jinn poked one of the twitching bodies. "They're big though. Fully organic, lacking any noticeable reproductive organs. A metaphysical container to facilitate the circulation of Magical Energy within the environment. Calculating the degree of organ failure through blood loss, biological make up indicates a short life span of roughly three months." Jinn spoke with a blank look on her face. "Hmm, they're artificially created and disposable." She kicked it off the ship. "We're detected, they're scouts."

"Ah?" I turned to Sasaki. "What happened?"

"Don't worry about it." He laughed. "Get ready for a fight though."

Many red dots blanketed the pit we were descending into. Hundreds if not thousands of them appeared in the distance, their eyes glowing in the dark.

"Front cannons, fire!" Jinn ordered, the magics within them accumulated and intense fires spewed forth, colliding with the oncoming wave.

She was having fun.

Even Wilhelm's mighty partner began to release Lightning Magics in their direction, disintegrating large swathes of them with ease.

I joined Sasaki up front, Gram entered my hands and I swung to cut one in half. It was not too difficult, they were not strong, but there were many more of them and I feared they would simply drown us in numbers.

Regardless, I swung and swung, sending many of their number to the bottom of the abyss with each passing moment.

My fellow swordsman was making quick work of them just as much if not superior than myself. For every one I felled, two or three were cleaved in twain by his Ebony Sword.

"Softer movements." He glanced my way. "You're putting too much energy in your swings, you're going to tire yourself out. Use your body for each swing, but let the momentum carry you. You're not hacking through a tree, your sword is merely gliding through the air."

I was surprised by his sudden advice, but I knew when to listen to my betters.

I tried it his way, instead of forcibly chopping down, I simply swung through the air, predicting their movements. It was true, they were quite easy to fell, and I did not need to put overly much effort into each new carcass that piled up.

"Haha, that's it!" The armorless man laughed, picking up his pace. "But, this doesn't look too good, they're surrounding us quite easily."

"Lady Jinn!" I looked back as Wilhelm's Lady was doing well to hold off any that approached her with swirling Magic Circles, showing such an amazing mastery of Magic that I was left in awe. "Do you believe these creatures to be of low intelligence?"

I cast my own magics, letting Gram be set alight with fire, and waving it around to push them away somewhat as their numbers made it difficult to continue slashing.

"Yup, dumb minions!" She shouted back. "You wanna take care of them or I can, I just didn't want to do something too big."

"Allow me." I took a deep breath. I have never used this Shout on such a large number of enemies before, and I particularly did not like using it, but this situation, I found myself with a clear conscious. "Raan Mir Tah!" I bellowed out as loud as I could as the Draconic Words reverberated through the air.

The Shout of forcing Animal Allegiance.

The hundreds and hundreds of bat-like creatures all simultaneously made a screech, forcing us to cover our ears amidst their noise. However, they slowly began to regain their earlier energy, but no long swarmed the ship, but rather flew around it as if waiting for orders.

I let out a breath of tiredness, I had not ever used the Thu'um to effect such a large number of entities before, It was not a pleasant experience.

"Good job, Thorum!" Jinn cheered for me.

Ah, her cheerfulness was always contagious and never failed to make me smile.

"You honor me, Lady Jinn, you could have just as easily dealt with such creatures on your own." I scratched my head embarrassingly.

"Are you controlling them?" Sasaki Kojiro asked.

"Aye, they listen to my orders." I looked up. "Follow us into battle!" I held up Gram pointing forward.

The Bat-like creatures screeched in acknowledgement and the Ship continued forward.

"Looks like we're about to hit some kind of threshold." Jinn warned, looking a mite more serious. "Those were just to dissuade intruders, as well as act as outer scouts I believe. We're about to enter Hel, if I'm not mistaken."

Wilhelm's Familiar zipped through the air, landing upon Lady Jinn's shoulder with his mate joining him quickly.

"You heard the Rabbit, full speed ahead!" She shouted.

As we got deeper, strangely, it began to get brighter, a light at the end of the tunnel.

Very quickly, it became clear what we were flying down into. It almost looked like.water in aspect, but more murky and hard to see into.

The Ship collided with it without stopping, the threshold of some manner fought against us, the ship pushed forward, and once more like water, it pushed past the surface, breaking free. I expected us to be submerged in some way, prepared to cast my own spells to make breathing possible, however, once we were past, and the strange grip on us disappeared, we were no longer descending downwards, rather, we were now in the sky above a vast plains bereft of any life.

Towering rock spirals that pierced the sky, chasms below that had a similar water-like substance that flowed through them. And there was a melancholic feeling that hung in the air with strange emerald and sapphire colors dancing amongst the stars.

It reminded me of the domain of the Soul Cairn but.it did not feelwrong in the way that place made your soul feel. Aye, it felt like I was not supposed to be here, but this was not a place against my own feelings.

It was truly a realm of the Dead, I believe such feelings were normal for a living person.

"Careful of Ghosts and Wraiths, we have no idea what's going on here." Jinn warned us.

I looked around and it seemed like a strange mist began to sort ofgather at our presence. I could hear whispers, voices speaking to me from within. They beckoned me, telling me to join them, to accept my place among their kin.

This was not Sovngarde, this was not where my end was to be had.

I respected the Dead that laid here, but this was not where I would take my eternal rest.

"I am by no means a master of Magic and such, but is this mist supposed to be doing this?" Sasaki Kojiro asked and I too was taken by surprise by the sudden 'assault' this effect had upon us.

The Mists swirled around us aggressively, blocking any vision we had beyond the ship an the surrounding creatures that flew at our side.

"Lok Vah Koor!" I shouted, my words reverberated out.

The Mist dispersed, as all weather phenomena was cleared by my hand.

With us at the center, the Mist was pushed away with a sudden boom. In the sky, and upon the lands, everything became clear as the day.

And that is when we saw what lay below in true. A sprawling castle with its own towers and defenses. The home of the person we sought, for better or worse. But with our sight now clear, it showed the enemies that too waited for us.

Sprawling formations of undead. Hundreds of thousands, and I could not begin to count them all. The Necromantic Magics that held them together made them light up amongst the decrepit stone earths they stood upon.

"That is a lot of Draugr." I noted.

"Sure is." Jinn agreed.

"Are we flying right in?" I asked, perhaps knowing the answer to my own question.

"No point in being cautious, we're already seen." Jinn smiled. "Full steam ahead!" The flying creatures around us became erratic and acknowledged the undead as their own enemies just as well due to my connection.

Just as we made the decision to fly forth, a protective barrier began to manifest around the Castle.

The sprawling towers also lit up with their own great Magics, and a hail of Magical Fire was launched towards us.

It was perhaps the first time we felt a sense of danger.

The first one hit the Ship, and our own protective Magics fended it off, but the ship shook something fierce.

Jinn quickly jumped to the front, and Magic Circles appeared by the dozens with her movements, many different layers of shields protecting us from the onslaught of the enemies' attack.

"Keep going, I'll hold off their Magic Attacks, we need to push through. If we get stuck fighting so many undead in this open field, we're going to be in for a bad time."

"Aye." I nodded, her words had sound logic to them. I would find it unwelcomed to be struck by such destructive magics if Undead swarmed us in such numbers. "Go!" I command the creatures under my thrall.

Hundreds in comparison to hundreds of Thousands below, but we merely needed an opening.

"The Gate." Jinn's eyes glowed. "It's both the entrance and the weak spot in the barrier."

"On it." I moved my hand, and the Bats swarmed forwards, as if to make us a path.

Numerous they may be, but Undead were not intelligent, nor were they strong individually. Some unknown command forced them to close ranks, to position themselves infront of our approach, but that was the extent of their team work.

The Bat-like creatures collided with the first line of Draugr, shattering their initial formation and delving deep into their numbers.

Unfortunately, Undead also do not feel fear nor weariness. Despite their kin falling by the hundreds, they did not waver one bit.

The Cannons at the bow of the ship continued to fire as well. I cast my own Magics, as pitiful in comparison they may be, and the ship burst through the front lines with the opening our fallen comrades had created.

Jinn walked towards the front, and in her hand, was a familiar glowing sword. "I've always wanted to do this." She said lightly with a smile, holding up the Sacred sword. "Dawnbreaker!" She called out, swinging it down, and a blinding wave of light followed.

It destroyed any Undead in its path, it treated them as a mere hindrance and collided with the gate of the castle. The Magics holding it together wavered and shuddered under the strain. Perhaps if she used it once more, it would not hold up, but the blast only could do so much in comparison to the tens of thousands of enemies it slayed and the strain it put forth onto the barrier.

There was now an open path forward, however, and the ship did not stop, but further increased it speed

I grabbed onto the railing, because I knew what was coming next.

The ship collided with the castle, bursting through the front gate and shattering the Magics preventing our entrance. The Ship suffered some minor damage, but the castle gate shattered, stone and splinters flew in every which way upon our arrival.

The ship came to an abrupt stop as well, it hit the ground rather hard, digging itself into the dirt.

I was not quite sure what I was looking at once I caught my bearings.

There were Ghosts, many many Ghosts of varying degrees, but they seemed to be shackled in some way. And there were Giants, some big, some..less big, but still rather large. And there were bones and flesh in a large pile while the Giants were stuffing the Ghosts into corpses.

They stopped for the most part once we entered, but it did not take one long to understand the process.

Sasaki Kojiro jumped off the Ship, sword drawn. "My turn to have a bit of fun."

Aye, I would let him handle it, he was not able to provide much support for the last battle.

Instead, I looked elsewhere, a strange feeling calling to me.

"Oh, I think that's her!" Jinn held up a hand above her eyes, looking only a bit further away as a woman was bound and chained to a chair. "Are you Hel!?" Jinn shouted, running over to her.

The woman herself, she had long white hair, and two horns coming from the side of her head. Her ears also were pointed like an elf's, but her eyes drew my attention the most. One was pink in color, the other was yellow, both equally.striking. They contrasted her complexion quite well, as half of her body seemed darker than the other.

"Greetings, we are here to rescue you, Lady Hel! We hail from a quest by the God, Odin!" I greeted.

They looked up at us in bewilderment. "Save me?" She blinked. "Someone actually came to save me?"

"Aye, I apologize for the late arrival, we only just learned of your imprisonment!" I nodded.

"It's nice to finally meet you! I'm Izzy's Harem sister, and I'm happy to meet one of her friends!" Jinn cheerfully added.

"Izzy?" She looked confused. "Do you mean Izanami?" She looked surprised. "Right, she got a boyfriend." The Goddess chuckled to herself. "Aren't you a sweet thing."

"Izzy knew that you wouldn't 'betray Asgard' or whatever." Lady Jinn spoke. "Let's see, how do we get you out?" She looked over the chains.

Lady Hel snorted in annoyance. "Betray Asgard?" She rolled her eyes. "No, my father tricked and bound me here after I refused his ridiculous scheme. As you can see, he's been using my subjects to fuel an army." Her voice drawled. "I don't know why anyone would think I would willingly use Undead Zombies. It's so clich that it physically pains me to even acknowledge. But unfortunately, it's a rather simple and productive solution. With myself bound, he can force my residents into a false body and control them that way."

"It's okay, our friend is cleaning up your jailers, then we can get you out swiftly, Lady Hel. We can accompany you back to Asgard and seek retribution and clear your name." I affirmed.

She looked at me. "I'm sorry, who are you? I don't recognize you, even if I know her." She meant Jinn.

"I apologize for my late introduction, I am Thorum. Wilhelm is my friend, and I am here to assist him in saving your home." I smiled. "Do not worry, I will not allow any harm to become you."

She lifted an eyebrow. "You have a strange soul."

I met her gaze and looked away unconsciously.

She let out a laugh. "Does my appearance disturb you? I can take on a more seemly appearance once I'm free, unfortunately, I am unable to use my power in this state."

"N-no, Lady Hel, I was merely taken back. You have very beautiful eyes." I awkwardly answered. "Fear not, your jailers will be no problem. Lady Jinn, how do we remove these chains, even I can feel the Magics around them, and I fear doing something harmful."

She tilted her head and a smile slowly grew. "You won't be able to undo these Chains. Father decided to get particularly creative. These are the chains forged by Hephaestus to chain Zues to his throne, hence" She looked down at herself. "He also wanted to torture me by making me watch my realm be used for his war machine in person. Which is why I'm sitting here rather than inside my palace. But I digress, it is not possible for Mortals to unlock these chains. And Father decided to take an extra and particularly malevolent step to curse the actual key. Any God who uses it to open these chains will trade their life for my freedom. But that is not important, my 'jailers' as you put it, were mere riffraff. My true Jailer has not appeared."

"Oh, are these Giants not important?" Sasaki Kojiro walked up, the corpse of a Giant hitting the ground.

"You are a spirit." She blinked, shaking her head. "As impressive as it is to slay them with such ease.I fear you do not know what you walked into. This was a trap laid to bring Odin despair." She looked off to the side. "He should already know you're here."

"Is he hiding within those mountains?" I looked over yonder.

"No." The mountains moved. It was then that I understood, that it was not a mountain, but a beast that uncoiled from its rest. Two eyes glowing amidst the sweeping mists of this death realm. The Two yellow eyes, each one that could be counted the size the our vessel. "That is my Jailer. Jrmungandr, the world Serpent. "

It was a serpent, vaster than any I have ever laid my eyes upon.

And I also felt a strange sensation within my chest, and a desire from within mine sword.

"Fear not, Lady Hel." I drew Gram within my hands. "Tis a mighty beast and larger than any I have seen, but it is a Dragon. And if there is one thing I am confident in, it is slaying Dragons."

[***]

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