Fenrir stood beside me, her sharp eyes narrowing. Her growl became more pronounced, her jaw clenched tighter. Her tail and ears stood erect, signaling her readiness to face danger.
"Get ready." Her voice was low yet filled with firm resolve, as if she knew what kind of threat awaited us. "They're not ordinary enemies."
I swallowed hard, my heart beginning to race.
The panicked screams of the guests gradually faded as they sought shelter, leaving the hall now filled with fully armed Utgard warriors. The clinking of armor filled the air, replacing the beautiful melodies that once echoed here.
Heavy footsteps thundered from outside, approaching fast. Then, a white blur streaked across the hall—so fast it was nearly impossible to follow. It was a winged woman, her silver armor reflecting the glow of the candle flames. On her back, two large wings shimmered like morning dew.
"Valkyrie!" Fenrir shouted, her voice sharp.
Without hesitation, she leaped forward, claws outstretched, ready to tear her apart.
The Valkyrie reacted swiftly, twisting her body midair to evade Fenrir's attack, then swung her glowing sword, nearly slicing through Fenrir's head.
But Fenrir was faster. She bent one leg backward, her kick landing squarely on the Valkyrie's chin, sending her tumbling in the air.
I had been waiting for the right moment, and now it was here. I gripped my spear tightly.
"Yata! Finish her!" Fenrir shouted, still spinning in the air.
Without needing a second command, I hurled Isskadi with all my strength. The spear shot forward like a flash of ice, piercing straight through the Valkyrie's heart, sending her crashing to the ground in a pool of blood.
Meanwhile, Fenrir landed gracefully atop the banquet table, now a mess of spilled food and overturned plates. She spun around, her expression fierce. "Focus, everyone! This isn't over! More are coming!"
I acted quickly, dashing toward the fallen Valkyrie and reclaiming Isskadi from her chest.
Just as Fenrir had predicted. The moment I retrieved my spear, three more figures darted into the hall, completely ignoring us. My eyes followed them as they moved past me.
"Shit, we're not their target," I gritted my teeth.
The Valkyries soared straight toward the soldiers behind me, their swords and spears gleaming in the firelight. Before I could even blink, seven heads were sent flying, severed in a single sweep. Another three were impaled like skewered meat by a Valkyrie's spear.
Realizing we would become easy prey if we stayed clustered, I quickly gave the order.
"Scatter!"
At my command, the warriors dispersed. Some still grouped together, forming a defensive circle with their backs pressed against one another.
I didn't fully understand why they chose this formation, but the cramped space likely left them no choice but to improvise.
We had no time to waste. The longer this dragged on, the more Valkyries would flood the hall.
"Got you!"
Fenrir lunged at another Valkyrie, fangs and claws bared, ripping into her prey. She seized the winged warrior and, without hesitation, drove her claws into the Valkyrie's chest.
"I can't just stand here!"
I sprinted in the opposite direction, aiming for another Valkyrie who had just entered through the front doors.
A golden-haired woman with broad wings flew low, her spear aimed forward. Her cold, emotionless face filled me with disgust.
Our spears clashed once. But when she recoiled from the force of our collision, I took my chance and thrust forward.
She reacted too late. In less than a second, Isskadi had already pierced her stomach. Blood gushed from her lips, splattering my clothes.
"You've lost."
She lifted her head to meet my gaze. Even as she weakened, her face remained expressionless—a chilling sight.
"Ugh..."
Despite being on the verge of death, she weakly raised her spear in a desperate attempt to fight back.
I smirked faintly. "Your resolve is admirable, but sorry—you die here."
I channeled my mana into Isskadi, triggering its ice magic. A cold wave spread from the spear, instantly freezing the woman into a statue of solid ice.
With a single upward swing, I shattered her into countless frozen shards that scattered across the floor. It was brutal, but I had no choice.
As I scanned my surroundings, the hall had transformed into a chaotic battlefield. More Valkyries had entered, locked in brutal combat against the powerful Jotun warriors.
The once-pristine floor was now littered with severed limbs. The golden walls of the palace were painted red with the blood of fallen fighters. Even the ceiling wasn't spared, decorated with scattered chunks of flesh.
"Damn, this place is a mess."
Just as I was about to move, a corpse was suddenly hurled at me from the right. I reflexively raised my spear to deflect it, but the sheer force of the throw knocked Isskadi out of my hands.
At that moment, a Valkyrie lunged at me, her sword aimed directly at my chest. She had been waiting for this exact moment—when I was caught off guard.
"Die."
"Not happening!"
I stomped my foot against the ground to regain balance and swiftly pulled out Muramasa, which I had tucked into my sleeve for emergencies.
I shifted my stance, bracing myself, and transformed Muramasa into a full-length katana. Then, with a powerful upward slash, I deflected her spear.
"Tsubame Gaeki!"
Shouting the name of my technique, I immediately followed up with a downward slash, putting everything I had into the strike.
Slash.
The blade cleaved clean through her body, splitting her into two perfectly even halves.
"Phew, that was close." I wiped the sweat off my forehead, feeling the familiar sensation of being inches from death—something I hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Stay sharp! There are still plenty more!" Fenrir suddenly landed beside me, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Yeah. I get it."
I stole a quick glance at her. From head to toe, she was drenched in blood—her hair, hands, clothes, everything.
She was right. There was no time to waste in the middle of a battlefield. The longer this lasted, the more lives would be lost. We had to end this as quickly as possible.
But then, a thunderous laugh echoed through the air, freezing me in place. The laugh was deep and booming, like a roaring storm.
A massive figure strode through the front entrance. His long blonde hair hung wild and unkempt. His thick beard framed a battle-hardened face. Clad in gleaming silver armor, he gripped a hammer crackling with lightning.
"Thor," Fenrir growled, her voice thick with hatred.
"Fenrir," Thor replied calmly. "So, the rumors about you breaking free from your chains were true."
"Grrr... shut up, you drunken bastard!" Fenrir snarled, her eyes blazing with fury. "How dare you even mention that! Today, I'll make sure you all pay for what you did!"
I furrowed my brows, watching the tension between them. Their stares spoke volumes—animosity that ran deep.
I tightened my grip on Isskadi. Fenrir clenched her fists. Thor raised his hammer. A hammer unmistakably known as Mjolnir.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Loki emerged from behind us, his blue-and-gold cloak billowing as he stepped forward. The usual mischief on his face was gone, replaced with an expression of firm resolve—and a trace of deep concern.
He placed a hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me back.
"I'll handle this one. You're not his match."
"Master..."
I wanted to argue, but I knew he was right. With my current strength, I stood no chance against Thor. If I stayed, I'd only become a burden to Fenrir.
"Understood."
Loki smirked—a familiar, mischievous grin. "Good. Don't worry, I'll make sure your sweetheart stays safe."
"Ugh..."
I wanted to refute him, but this was not the time. Every second was worth a life.
"In that case, I leave it to you."
"Yeah, you can count on me. Now, I'll leave the rear to you."
Without waiting for another command, I turned and sprinted away, pushing aside all unnecessary concerns.
*****
[PoV Fenrir]
After Yata left to deal with the Valkyries at the back, I was now partnered with Loki, facing Thor. Honestly, I would have preferred to fight alongside Yata rather than Loki, but that wasn't an option right now.
Loki turned his gaze toward Thor. "Thor," he said, his tone carrying the familiarity of an old acquaintance. "Welcome to Utgard. Though I don't think you were invited."
"I don't need an invitation to destroy this place," Thor shot back, pointing his finger toward me. "Besides, my main targets are that girl and Veiløs Vandrer."
"Veiløs Vandrer?" I frowned. "Who are you talking about?"
Thor shook his head slightly and gave a faint smile. "You don't need to know."
Loki, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "I have no idea who this Veiløs Vandrer you're talking about is, but that girl is my guest. I can't let you lay a finger on her."
Thor let out an irritated huff. "Then I guess there's nothing left to discuss."
Loki chuckled softly before extending his hand to the side, drawing energy from the air. "In that case, allow me to show you the hospitality of Utgard."
With a snap of his fingers, a blinding light radiated from him, and the grand hall around us vanished. It was replaced by a vast, barren wasteland, surrounded by a sky filled with storm clouds flashing with lightning.
"Welcome to the battlefield, God of Thunder."
Thor raised Mjolnir high. A massive bolt of lightning shot out from his hammer, piercing through the dark clouds above.
"I'm ready whenever you are, King of Utgard." His voice boomed, rivaling the thunder rumbling in the sky.
I let out a low growl, my body leaning forward, claws digging into the barren ground. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to lunge at him at any moment. Meanwhile, Loki stood beside me, magical circles forming on both of his hands.
"Loki, Fenrir…" Thor swung Mjolnir lightly, sparks crackling at its tip. "Show me that Utgard is still worthy of being called the land of giants."
I growled louder, baring my fangs. "Shut up, you drunken fool. You'll regret this day!"
Loki sighed softly, tilting his head slightly before glancing at me. "Fenrir, don't let your emotions get the better of you. Let's finish him quickly. Yata can handle the rest."
Thor scoffed, his grin widening. "Good. Show me what you've got." He raised Mjolnir high once more, summoning a blinding lightning strike that illuminated the battlefield.
I glanced back, catching a glimpse of Yata locked in battle with the Valkyries in the distance. He would be fine—I had to trust in his strength. My focus snapped back to Thor. His eyes gleamed with excitement, like someone who had been waiting for this fight for centuries.
"Loki…" I muttered, my fangs fully bared. "Don't make me protect you too much."
Loki simply chuckled before lifting his hands, and with that, our battle had finally begun.