[Yatagarasu's POV]
The deafening roar shook the battlefield, piercing the ears of anyone who heard it. Heavy footsteps pounded against the ground, making the barren surface quake like unending thunder.
From behind the suffocating mist, the giant figure emerged, a six-meter-tall Spinosaurus with a massive sail towering on its back. Its dark, scale-covered skin, patterned with shadowy hues, made it appear like a living specter of death.
Burn marks across its body and the small holes encircling its neck left no doubt in my mind. It was the same Spinosaurus I encountered when I was thrown into its territory weeks ago.
"You again," I muttered, my voice almost choking.
Back then, I had barely escaped death from its jaws, and now it appeared here, in the midst of this battle. How was this possible? What was it seeking? Was it still after me?
I stood frozen, my gaze fixed on its unexpected arrival. My eyes locked onto its figure, which seemed to be deliberately moving toward me.
Several Valkyries tried to block its path, flying low with weapons drawn. Yet the creature dismissed them as trivial. With one brutal bite, it tore a Valkyrie's body in two, her blood splattering across the sand. The others were flung aside with a single swipe of its massive claws.
Its heavy steps continued in my direction.
I gripped my spear tightly. My body slowly moved backward, searching for an opening to flee.
As it came closer, I prepared to turn around and put as much distance as I could between us. But it was faster than me. Before I could fully turn, the creature blocked my path with its enormous leg.
I gasped, stumbling backward in panic.
"What do you want from me?" I shouted, raising my voice. "Didn't I save your offspring as you requested last time?"
The Spino didn't respond, or rather, it couldn't. It simply narrowed its eyes at me. A low growl rumbled from its snout.
We began to circle each other slowly, our eyes locked, like two predators reading each other's movements.
Unlike before, strangely, I didn't feel the same oppressive intimidation from it. Its gaze, though sharp, didn't seem to view me as prey.
"What do you really want?" My voice softened, laden with uncertainty.
The Spino suddenly lowered its head to my level. Our eyes met.
Even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, a strange silence enveloped us, as if we were the only two beings trying to understand each other, searching for something buried deep within.
Its long snout flared as it sniffed the air around me. Its eyes moved up and down, scrutinizing me closely. Moments later, its sharp gaze began to change. The tension in its features eased, and a low, non-threatening sound emerged from its snout, as if it had found its answer.
I felt as though I could start to understand it. A small smile grew within me. The fear that had gripped me moments ago was gone. Boldly, I reached out and pressed my hand against its snout, stroking it gently. The creature raised its head again, blocking out the radiant moonlight.
Suddenly, the Spino lifted one of its massive claws high into the air and swung it directly at me.
My eyes widened, and my jaw clenched tightly. I had made a mistake, thinking we had reached an understanding. I tightened my grip on Ísskadi and Muramasa, crossing them in front of me to block the deadly swipe of its claws.
To my surprise, the claws weren't aimed at me. Instead, they struck a Valkyrie flying toward me from behind, a threat I hadn't noticed.
The massive claws slashed through the Valkyrie, sending her crashing to the ground. Three deep vertical gashes stretched from her chest to her abdomen.
I froze, but then a small smile broke across my lips. "So that's it. I understand your feelings now."
It seemed the Spino had sensed the magical contract I formed with Crimson and Aqua, which might have created a faint connection between us. Or perhaps it realized that helping me might give it a chance to see its offspring again, even if just once.
"Alright," I said, stepping closer cautiously. A sincere smile curved on my face. "Let's fight together."
The Spinosaurus calmed further as I approached. It let out a low rumble, almost as if in agreement.
Once it seemed more at ease, I leaped onto its back, climbing up to stand beside its massive, powerful sail. From this height, I had an incredible vantage point as it strode boldly into the heart of the battlefield.
The Valkyries who attempted to block our path were mercilessly destroyed. Its enormous jaws tore through their bodies, and its claws shredded their armor as if it were paper.
Some of them flew high, trying to attack from above, but I extended Ísskadi, summoning spears of ice to fend off those who aimed for the Spino's blind spots.
"This works out nicely for both of us," I muttered.
Ahead of us, a group of Valkyries flew low, attempting to halt our advance. I pointed my spear forward, casting shards of ice that shot like arrows. Just as they were pushed back, the Spinosaurus unleashed its fiery breath, engulfing them in a blinding red blaze.
"Stop them!" Anitra's voice rang out in the distance as she commanded the Valkyries, who seemed to be her subordinates.
But the Spino and I ignored her cries, pressing on and tearing through the enemy lines with unstoppable force. This Spinosaurus was like a living tank, and I was its guardian, protecting its flanks from unseen threats.
Whenever a Valkyrie approached, they were met with claws, sword slashes, spear thrusts, freezing magic, or swallowed whole by the Spino.
From afar, Anitra ground her teeth in frustration, unwilling to accept how easily we were dominating her juniors.
My laughter rang out across the battlefield, mingling with the clash of steel and the billowing black smoke. I could see the dramatic shift taking place. The Valkyries, once brimming with confidence, now faltered, their resolve unraveling.
In contrast, the Jotuns were reignited with courage and determination, their spirits blazing like roaring flames. Some raised their weapons and magic circles high, while others grew to enormous sizes, stepping in to replace their fallen kin.
"It seems the tides of this battle have turned because of you," I said, patting the Spinosaurus's head. My gaze swept across the battlefield, and a glimmer of hope for victory began to take root in my heart.
The Valkyries grew more cautious and passive. Each time they began to approach, they quickly moved aside, trying to minimize their casualties. Occasionally, they attempted to fire magic, but I swiftly froze or shattered their magic circles before they could activate by launching the ice spears that hovered around me.
Amidst the chaos, however, I couldn't shake the feeling that this monster wasn't here just to fight. Its gaze occasionally darted around, as if searching for something.
"Crimson... Aqua..." I muttered softly, realizing what it was looking for. "Do you miss your children?" I half-whispered.
It didn't answer but continued moving forward, unstoppable.
I could only smile, starting to understand its feelings. "Very well, I promise to reunite you with your children as soon as this war is over."
My gaze turned sharp as it landed on Anitra. She hovered above the thin clouds, her shoulder-length hair fluttering in the wind, while her wings emitted a radiant glow. From her vantage point, she shouted loudly, her voice echoing like thunder.
"Valkyries! Awaken your power! Unleash everything you have until nothing remains, or you will die!"
Suddenly, the battlefield shifted. A golden-yellow aura enveloped every Valkyrie, glowing brighter and brighter as if their strength had drastically increased with just one command from Anitra.
My eyes widened as one of the Valkyries effortlessly cut down five Jotun warriors in a single strike. Their once-proud bodies now lay lifeless, blood flooding the barren ground.
"This is bad," I muttered, glancing at Spino, now surrounded by Valkyries. Though it still stood strong, the enemy's attacks had started leaving wounds on its massive body. "It seems they're gambling by unleashing all of their power."
Anitra wasted no time, darting toward me in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, my reflexes allowed me to block her sudden attack.
I was thrown hard, crashing to the ground and rolling over. To stop myself from being dragged further, I quickly stabbed Ísskadi into the earth, anchoring myself against the remaining force of her strike. Rising to one knee, I locked eyes with Anitra, who floated slowly toward me.
A wide smirk spread across her face. She seemed to be enjoying the situation. "Look at you. Handsome as you may be, you dared to defy Asgard. Are you ready to face the consequences of our last fight?"
I didn't answer, brushing the dust off my clothes.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!"
"A knight fights with weapons and skill, not with arrogance spewed from their lips."
Anitra fell silent, her teeth clenched tightly.
Both of my hands gripped Muramasa and Ísskadi firmly, my gaze remaining locked on her as I slowly rose to my feet.
"A fight to the death, is it?" I stepped forward, ignoring the pain spreading through my body. "If that's what you want, I won't disappoint you."
Anitra chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with the desire to destroy. She swung her sword to the side, letting the moonlight glint off its surface.
"Come at me whenever you're ready, little insect."
A strong wind blew, carrying dust and sand that swirled between us. Amidst the chaos, we stood facing each other, ready to strike.
I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on my swords. Our eyes locked, and beyond her, I could see the Spinosaurus still fighting valiantly against the other Valkyries.
But I couldn't let my focus waver. This time, I only had one opponent, but she was undoubtedly the most dangerous one on this battlefield.
With a single step forward, Anitra charged at me.
I raised my weapons again, preparing to face her once more. Our battle began again.