The great serpent didn't care about saving face at all. To it, face? What's that? Can you eat it?
It only cared about the sun, and from the look of things, this thunder god Thor didn't seem like he could be dealt with anytime soon. If it wasn't careful, even if it won, it might end up badly battered in the process. In that case, it would be better to temporarily withdraw, retreating back into the endless deep sea. Then, when the sun rose again, it could once more swallow it whole in one gulp. Afterwards, it would absolutely not give the gods another chance to steal the sun.
At the same time, although its immense size granted the great serpent unimaginably terrifying power, it also meant that when driving its colossal body, the serpent needed to expend an equally immense amount of energy. Up to this point, the serpent had to admit it was indeed feeling a bit of fatigue and weariness.
For the serpent, this idea was indeed making it sorely tempted.
Therefore, the serpent glanced at that thunder god, its body still gradually retreating back into the seawater, preparing to no longer bother with this troublesome situation, withdrawing back into the great sea to wait for another opportunity.
But due to its colossal form, the commotion it caused when retreating back into the sea was equally immense, and before it, Thor had also clearly noticed this.
"Trying to flee?"
Thor roared, swinging the war hammer in his hand while chasing after it, his heavy footsteps stomping on the land, creating a thunderous rumbling sound almost like an earthquake.
At the same time, his arm raised high, with a loud shout, the war hammer in his hand fiercely hurled towards the serpent's body.
"Rumble rumble!!!"
The war hammer, thrown with staggering force, heavily smashed into the serpent's scales, penetrating the mountain-like thick scales, once again leaving a deep, bloody hole in the serpent's body. However, the serpent paid it no heed, continuing to submerge into the great sea of its own volition.
At this point, the serpent, no longer in the mood to fight, couldn't be bothered to compete with the thunder god for victory. To it, returning to the great sea, hiding at the bottom of the endless deep sea to wait for another opportunity, was the most relaxing method.
But just as it was about to dive into the depths of the sea, suddenly, from its tail came a strong pulling force, firmly grasping it, accompanied by a faint numbing sensation in its body, making it difficult for the serpent to continue advancing.
It raised its head, trying to see what was behind it.
It saw that behind it, Thor was tightly gripping its serpent tail, his face flushed red. Countless bolts of lightning spread out from his hands like a vast net, forming a strong pulling and attracting force, making it hard for the great serpent to keep moving forward.
A figure seemingly as tiny as a speck of dust, yet forcibly holding back a magnificently monstrous being akin to a mountain range - this jaw-dropping scene unfolded before the great serpent.
Evidently, Thor's intention was to stop it from returning to the deep sea.
The serpent was enraged in its heart, once again increasing its strength. When this worldly python truly began to exert its force, even Thor, whose strength surpassed all the gods, had no choice but to retreat step by step.
No matter how much he gritted his teeth and used all his strength, that feeling of helplessness, like an ant trying to shake a great tree, still firmly enveloped Thor's heart.
"No other way…"
Thinking this in his heart, although somewhat reluctant, he still abruptly raised his head and roared loudly towards the sky.
"Freyr! Tyr! Vidar…"
One god's name after another was shouted from his mouth.
And in the hazy night sky above, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, as if responding to his call. Then, one after another, thick golden chains pierced through the dense dark clouds and thunder, hanging down from the sky above.
"Clang clang…"
The thick, pure gold chains collided with each other, making crisp ringing sounds. They extended all the way from the dome of the sky to the ground below, connecting heaven and earth, then intertwined around the serpent's body one after another.
Subsequently, giants clothed in dazzling radiance descended from the firmament above to the great sea and the land, each wielding golden chains.
Vidar, the incarnation of the indestructible power of the forests, symbolizing the forests that, despite the coming of spring, autumn, and winter, could always be reborn anew, was hailed as the only one among the gods who truly possessed immortality…
Tyr, revered as the god of courage and war, was worshipped as a war god due to his love for battle, second only to Thor in strength among the gods…
Freyr, although courteous and handsome, was equally recognized by the gods for his formidable martial prowess, and his victorious sword in hand was known as invincible…
Not only that, from the land, from the great sea, from the clouds, gods both male and female appeared, each grasping pure gold chains, numerous chains of varying thickness looping around the serpent's body from different directions.
Although in the earlier fierce battle between Thor and the giant serpent, that overwhelming might causing even heaven and earth to tremble made these gods also quail in fear, not daring to intervene, when this giant serpent was preparing to turn and flee, these gods were still quite willing to lend Thor a hand.
These varied gods, although differing in personality and appearance, were all undoubtedly formidable war gods in Asgard. At this moment, they all united to confront this unprecedentedly immense monster since the birth of the universe, enough to show how seriously they took it.
"Ah!!!"
The pure gold chains in the gods' hands entwined around the mountain-range-like colossal serpent's body. Then, they all roared, exerting force from different directions. In an instant, those pure gold chains were pulled taut.
Hermod, messenger and watchman of the gods, stepped on a mountain, strenuously pulling the pure gold chain in his hand, his face flushed red. His big feet stepped on the ground, sinking deep down. With each step, a muddy swamp formed in the ground.
As for Vidar, thick roots and lush forests sprouted where he landed, firmly anchoring his body. Then, his muscular arms slowly pulled the chain back bit by bit.
On the land, in the great sea…
Every god was using their own methods, trying their utmost to drag this immense serpent, making it difficult for it to move.
"Huff!!!"
Gale-like breaths spewed from the serpent's nostrils. The mighty force of the gods working together made this giant serpent feel strained and weighed down like never before. But this also stirred up the thick savagery within the serpent. Enduring the heavy pressure behind it, it forcibly dragged itself in the direction of the great sea.
On one side were the infinitely powerful gods, on the other an unprecedentedly colossal monster. The tug-of-war between the two sides was actually equally matched, too close to call.
Seeing this situation, Thor couldn't help but grow anxious. He immediately roared loudly towards the direction of the sea.
"Aegir!"
The roar reached the deepest part of the sea…
And in the undersea palace, old sea god Aegir, looking up through the dim seawater overhead, showed a hesitant expression on his face. But in the end, he still gritted his teeth and muttered.
"So be it."
With that, he raised the scepter beside him and heavily struck the ground beneath his feet.
The great sea suddenly underwent some strange change…
"Rumble rumble rumble…"
And at the same time, the great serpent, arduously locked in a tug-of-war with the gods, suddenly felt the seawater on its body instantly become incomparably heavy, as if in a flash, a thousand, ten thousand mountain peaks had been added onto its body, making it feel strained, no longer able to continue fully resisting those heavy chains on its body.