198. The Burning Yggdrasil (2)
Loft kept grinning non-stop. Well, it looked like he was grinning. Abel couldn’t read his expression.
Instead of eyes, glowing orbs shone from the hollow sockets. His lower jaw, more than half exposed and lacking lips, made it seem like he was either smiling or growling. His prominent bones were densely adorned with intricate tattoos.
So, Abel found him unsettling. At least, the Loft she remembered didn’t look like this. As someone connected to the Northern Temple of the Gods, she wasn’t quick to get used to Loft’s transformation.
“Finally, we’ve made it this far.”
Loft spoke as he led his hawk along the massive branch of Yggdrasil. The hawk circled the air for a while before landing on the tip of the branch. Thor rolled his pale face along the branch.
“Oh, was the flight a bit rough, my friend?”
[Kill, I’ll kill you.]
“Too bad, I’m already dead!”
Loft chuckled and patted Thor’s back. He then turned his head to look below the branch. The land was shattered, and scattered demons could be seen throughout Asgard… It was horrifying.
It looked like a section of Hell had been cut out and placed over it. Loft clicked his tongue and spoke cheerfully.
“There were a few sacrifices, but still!”
“…A few?”
“Don’t worry too much! Everything will go according to plan.”
“I’ll just check on Karadfellin’s safety and head back right away. There are things more important to me than Asgard’s future.”
“Haha, don’t be so serious! Love, my friend. I once had someone I loved too.”
Loft’s orbs glowed as he suddenly burst into laughter.
“There were moments when time stopped as we walked together, and the world felt like it was in my arms when we lay together! This cold heart of mine once raced with excitement… But my friend, it was all an illusion. Just fleeting time and fleeting emotions.”
“For a Jotun to say such things.”
Abel glared at Loft with cold eyes. She jumped off the hawk and landed lightly on the branch.
“Jotun, Aesir, Vanir. Dragons and elves. Giants and gods. Whatever we are, we are long-lived. Time flows slowly for us, and light lingers in our hearts. A single memory, a single hope… We can endure the loneliness of our remaining time by cherishing that one thing forever.”
“Touching. Truly.”
Loft shook his head as he spoke.
“That must be why you’ve become so calm. The Flame’s Messenger?”
“Isn’t that an old nickname? If you’re trying to embarrass me, you’ve succeeded.”
“Well, you’re right. We do endure our remaining time by cherishing a single memory. For you, it might have been a soft, sweet, and cute emotion… But not for me.”
Loft chuckled and turned around. Abel could see the tattoos densely covering his broad back. Tattoos depicting all kinds of forbidden spells were etched into his skin. And beneath the tattoos… deep scars were visible.
Scars… from whip lashes, burns from branding irons, rotting and crushed skin, and occasionally exposed bones. The tattoos were also there to hide his scars.
Abel knew his true nature. She had once mingled with the Aesir. A jester and a joker, a Jotun who had fallen among the Aesir. She knew of the countless abuses inflicted on the young hostage from an enemy nation.
Therefore, his cheerfulness was twisted in some way. It wasn’t the kind of cheerfulness that saw life itself as a joke, but rather a kind of liberation.
“Stop eavesdropping and come out, Heimdall. My friend.”
“It took you long enough. Loki. Longer than your promise.”
“Yeah, yeah. Long time no see. I’m glad to see you too.”
-Swish.
A man slowly walked out from the dense leaves of Yggdrasil. A man clad in heavy armor stood before Loki and stared at him quietly. Fiery eyes could be seen beneath the helmet’s visor.
“Your approach was already reported. Loki, as was the end of my brother and father.”
“Everything will go according to Botan’s plan.”
“…And your plan too. I hope it benefits us all.”
Heimdall looked at Loki for a moment, then nodded heavily. Soon, the massive leaves and branches twisted on their own, forming an arched gateway. They walked through it.
* * *
“Kirhas, I leave it to you!”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
The shortest distance, and the shortest time. It wasn’t a mission with a strict time limit, but the longer they took, the more disadvantageous the battlefield would become, exponentially.
The success of this operation hinged on Loft and Fernandez’s cooperation. He had to reach Yggdrasil before the gates of Bifrost were fully opened, allowing armies from various worlds to pour in.
The distance from Botan’s palace to Yggdrasil wasn’t too far. However, demon camps were scattered throughout, and crossing the vast plains without engaging in battle was nearly impossible and a waste of time.
Therefore, Fernandez and Kirhas chose to sprint. Straight toward Yggdrasil in a direct line!
-Xhiii-!
A scaled demon spotted them and let out a roar. Soon, a small group that appeared to be a scouting force emerged. Each one was elite, and in that regard, they were no less than the demons summoned by the Dremdrizard cult—
‘But Kirhas isn’t the same as back then.’
Time flows equally for everyone, but some spend it more “equally” than others. A year in the growth period of heroes who dominate their generation couldn’t possibly hold the same concept of time as a regular year.
In that sense, Kirhas’s growth was nothing short of legendary. A year ago…
At the time she was rescued from the slave market, she was just a swift and sensitive beastman.
But now, she is the chieftain of the Federation of Nobles that rules the entire Great Wilderness and a warrior unmatched by her peers.
Her innate talent, potential, excellent training system, countless real combat experiences, future battle knowledge, and instincts awakened by the Choice of the God!
“Kneel!!”
Kirhas leaped forward, lowering her stance in front of Fernandez. Her turquoise eyes shone coldly yet fiercely, like a winter night’s storm, as her hand gently gripped the sword hilt!
“The Lord is arriving!”
‘Ah, I never taught her that.’
-Is it just me feeling embarrassed?
Kirhas’ black hair flowed like a rapid stream. Her movements, like lightning, seemed to have been colored by the wind. As she brushed past the demons, their heads flew into the air.
Blood splattered, and headless bodies staggered and fell, but Kirhas was already moving beyond them.
“Your Excellency!!”
“Yeah… well done.”
She perked her ears as if asking for praise, so he gave her a word. Fernandez chuckled as he stepped over the demon’s corpse. He had entrusted all the battles during the march to Kirhas to preserve his combat strength.
And every time they encountered demons.
“Kneel!! Down!!”
Kirhas shouted excitedly. She looked like a hunting dog bringing prey to the ground and wagging its tail, so Fernandez couldn’t stop her.
‘Well, stress relief is important too.’
-What about our stress?
‘I don’t lose performance just because I’m a bit stressed.’
-Damn Diemonica.
Faijashi grumbled.
* * *
Walking through the gates of Bifrost, Heimdall suddenly nodded. He looked at Loft and spoke softly.
“The mortals you brought. Impressive.”
“Oh, you noticed already?”
“Hard to miss when they make such a ruckus. The demons on that plain are all turning their eyes that way.”
“Is it dangerous?”
When Abel spoke worriedly, Heimdall chuckled.
“Dangerous? Well, probably not. That mortal with Fenrir. She’s quite the figure.”
“Our Kirhas is really capable.”
Abel smiled softly and nodded. As long as Fernandez and Kirhas were safe, she was relieved.
After walking for a while, a gate emitting pure white light appeared before them. Looking at the gate, Thor, who had been walking silently, shuddered.
[The Sanctuary of Karadpelin… It’s been a while.]
“You should have visited more often.”
A deep, low voice echoed from beyond the gate.
“Come in. Sorry, but I can’t come out to greet you.”
The light of the gate slowly faded, revealing what lay beyond. A blue field, a clear sky, and a silver river of mercury flowing smoothly. A vast lake where the river gathered, and a white altar standing above it.
They crossed the gate and approached the source of the voice. A long white wooden bridge with beautiful carvings stretched over the lake, leading to the altar floating leisurely on the Mercury Lake.
The chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the warm breeze felt surreal. It was a space completely different from Asgard beyond the gate… like a true paradise.
A strange magical energy filled with divinity flowed in the air. The tension that had surrounded the group gradually eased as their travel-weary bodies began to relax.
“Come here. I’d like to offer you something to drink, but… all I have is mercury. Don’t drink it, it’s not good for you.”
“You’ve gotten quite good at jokes, Karadpelin?”
“All I can do now is joke.”
As the group reached the middle of the bridge, the interior of the altar came into view. A man knelt under the bright sunlight, his long, radiant golden hair covering his face.
No, he wasn’t just kneeling. The man was half-buried in the white wooden altar. Abel hurriedly approached him.
“What is this… Karadpelin!”
“Oh, Abelesas. It’s good to see you alive, my sister.”
“What happened?”
As she tried to step closer, he raised his hand to stop her.
“Don’t come any closer. It might be dangerous.”
“…Did you seal yourself?”
“It became too hard to bear.”
-Swish.
As he lifted his head, his hair shifted, revealing his face. Abel gasped and stepped back.
“Your face…!”
“I know, it’s not a pretty sight, is it?”
His pale, jewel-like skin contrasted with the dark red scales that mottled his face like tumors. His right eye was a sky-blue like Abel’s, but the other was a deep, burning red like embers.
With slit pupils like a reptile’s, he smiled sadly at Abel.
“The seal has been weakening lately. Loki, it seems the promised time has come.”
“…Friend. Will you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Fate cannot be changed.”
Karadpelin smiled softly. Loft’s eyes flickered as he slowly approached him.
“Fate… No, it was I who corrupted Sadarkelisa, and you were just a victim caught in it.”
“That too was fate. That you corrupted her, that this beautiful land was defiled.”
“Thank you for the comfort.”
Loft slowly reached into his robe. Soon, a dagger appeared in his hand. Seeing this, Heimdall spoke in panic.
“Wait, what are you doing? Didn’t you come to strengthen the seal?”
“I came to prevent Ragnarok.”
“Yes! That was your father’s plan! Killing that dragon now will prevent Ragnarok? If that dragon dies…!”
“I know. Jormungand will awaken. That serpent’s seal is this friend’s heart.”
Loft pointed the dagger at Karadpelin’s neck.
“And to prevent Ragnarok… Ragnarok must first happen. Friend.”
With that declaration, Loft swung the dagger. There was no sound of flesh being cut, no final gasp as the neck was pierced. Just the sound of the wind being split.
“Don’t forgive me, friend. The past thousand years. You’ve suffered enough.”
-Rumble!!
As he spoke, the altar on the lake began to shake violently.
![[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/TS-Obsessed-Gamer-The-Ultimate-Return2.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] Obsessed Gamer: The Ultimate Return")
