"Step…"
All around, countless flames were burning, chunks of earth were crashing down, the skeletal evil god, clad in a thin garment, laboriously panting, step by step headed towards that sole temple still barely standing - Gladsheim.
And soon, he faced a silent old foe.
"Heh heh… Heimdall, you plan to stop me? Just like in that prophecy, you and I shall fight to the death, perishing together in the end?"
A mocking, cold smile appeared on the evil god's face, and before him, the guardian of the gods, also his old adversary Heimdall, though glowering at him darkly, unexpectedly did not say much, instead speaking in a low voice.
"Before the great battle, Lord Odin left me an order and some words… about you, Loki."
And looking at Heimdall before him, Loki fell silent, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Heh heh… ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!"
First a low chuckle, then his voice gradually rose, until finally, unable to contain himself, he held his forehead and laughed maniacally.
After a long while, the laughter ceased, he lowered his hand, revealing a ferocious visage.
"How amusing, could it be that my 'brother' left some message for me to end this war? But don't you think it's a bit too late for that?"
Heimdall remained unmoved, and continued speaking.
"The Lord asks you… are you happy now?"
Loki's pupils slightly contracted, then his expression grew even icier.
"None of that matters…"
"The Lord bids me tell you: look at everything around you, Asgard must be destroyed, the human world likely collapsed as well, Alfheim fallen into the sea, the dwarven kingdom of Nidavellir also ruined, the sea everywhere filled with floating corpses, the flames of the primordial fire giant Surtr before his death burned the entire World Tree to near death, few stars remain in the sky, shooting stars everywhere, the frost giants and fire giants also nearly all dead, the gods suffering terrible losses…"
"Your three children, Fenrir must have perished with me, Hel died at Gleipnir's hand, Jormungandr and Thor killed each other…"
"Now, are you happy?"
Along with Heimdall's words, a hint of complexity appeared in Loki's pupils.
He raised his head, gazed at the sky, that vault of heaven scorched by flames, riddled with huge holes, long since lost its former azure hue. Those remaining stars hung on the edge of the sky, struggling desperately, but stars still occasionally fell, plunging into the mortal realm.
"You were dissatisfied with me, for the sake of your children's situation, in a fit of rage you unleashed Ragnarok, triggering that final fate. I know, I was at fault in this too, I can no longer blame you further, but what I want to say is… do you still remember, when we first created this world, what we hoped for?"
"Heh, trying to tug at my heartstrings, don't you think that's a bit heavy-handed?"
Loki suddenly gave a cold laugh, but no one could deny, there was a hint of pensiveness on his face.
Heimdall paid no heed to his words, his duty was only to relay the Lord's message to Loki, nothing more.
"The power of fate, you and I have already deeply experienced, Ragnarok is a destiny no one can change, but I pondered for a long time, and finally grasped a key point…"
"If the destruction of the world is because of this world's birth, then, this death itself hints at the hope of life. No matter how it is destroyed, when a person dies they become a skeleton, the skeleton's existence itself means the 'life' of the skeleton, the skeleton's death is to turn to dust, and from dust there can be birth… all things cycle and turn, going around and beginning again, where there is life there must be death, and death also means new life."
"The destruction of the old world also means the birth of a new world, just as that chaotic world that lasted for countless eons was destroyed, a new world was also born, and I… hope that you can become the new king of gods, leading those young gods to rebuild a new world anew, I believe your wisdom can accomplish this."
Heimdall recited verbatim, and when he finished, though this guardian of the gods still had a grim face, there was no hostility.
"Loki, choose."
Looking at Loki before him, this guardian of the gods spoke in a low voice.
Clearly, Lord Odin had already placed his full trust in Loki, resting all hope for the birth of a new world upon Loki, if Loki refused, then they could only resort to violence, all gods and life would be utterly extinguished, perishing in this great conflagration engulfing the entire universe; but if Loki let go of hatred, this universe would still have hope, and all this depended solely on Loki's choice…
Loki was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"Heimdall, can you truly put aside all past grudges, obey my commands, and revere me as the new king of gods?"
Heimdall frowned slightly, displeased.
"Heimdall never lies."
Clearly, he was very displeased by Loki doubting his words.
But Loki directly said.
"I want you to swear an oath."
Heimdall fell silent, then he clenched his right hand into a fist, placed it horizontally across his chest, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"Heimdall hereby swears, willing to put aside all that has passed, obey Loki's commands, and revere Loki as the new king of gods."
Loki looked at him, then slowly nodded, stepping into Gladsheim.
…
When Loki stepped into the vast hall of Gladsheim, before him were only a mere handful of gods and that topmost throne of the god-king, unexpectedly, there were even a few gods who had once perished… the god of light Baldr and the god of darkness Hodr, these two gods had already let go of their enmity, returning once more as brothers to this realm of gods.
The former realm of death had become a refuge for these two gods, allowing them to escape Ragnarok, did Odin kill Hodr back then because he had already foreseen today? No one knew.
The sun goddess Suna, daughter of Sol, the god of vengeance Vidar, Odin's youngest son Vali…
The once bustling Aesir gods, or rather the entire universe, now actually had only these few young gods remaining.
And Loki noticed more, these few young gods, without exception, were all gods who kept themselves pure and had not been overly entangled in those deep-seated old grudges and much chaotic living, the few gods Odin had selected clearly had his own considerations.
And looking at Loki before them, though there was a hint of wariness in the eyes of the few young gods, seeing Heimdall beside them, clearly, they already understood what was to follow.
"Do you willingly obey my commands, acknowledge me as the new king of gods?"
Facing Loki's words, the few young gods looked at each other, and one by one swore to willingly follow the commands of the new king of gods.
"Very well then…"
Looking at the few gods before him, the corners of Loki's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a… savage smile.
"I command you all to take your own lives!"
Astonishment and shock enveloped these few gods, but, having sworn their oaths, they were already powerless to resist Loki's command, no matter how much anger was in their hearts, it was difficult to stop their hands from involuntarily raising the swords beside them.
"Loki! You…"
Heimdall glared at Loki before him with rage threatening to burst from his crown, but his hand had already uncontrollably drawn the sword at his waist, then, pointed it at his own neck.
And before him, Loki merely calmly walked upward, passing the few young gods still struggling, heading towards that topmost throne of the god-king.
"Why…"
Heimdall uttered an indistinct sound, but Loki did not answer him.
He could not comprehend at all, with the world already on the brink of destruction, either Loki agreed to their proposal, rebuilding a new world anew, or they would all perish together, could it be that by having them take their own lives, Loki would be able to withstand this universe already on the verge of destruction, surviving alone?
But he still did not wait for Loki to speak, this guardian of the gods had already slit his own throat and fallen, and accompanying his fall were the other few young gods.
Passing the few corpses beside him with eyes wide open in outrage, Loki's face was pensive, gazing at the throne of the god-king before him, murmuring.
"Why… could it be just to repeat once more what has already happened, this kind of absurd universe should have been destroyed long ago."
Slowly sitting upon this throne of the god-king, the new king of gods silently surveyed the world below…
"I am the king of gods… Loki!"
A resounding voice rang out in this universe where the sky was collapsing and earth crumbling, already on the brink of destruction, proclaiming the birth of the new king of gods.