The sun was setting, and the sky was turning blood red. The clouds were red too. The redness in the sky was now turning the green of the distant horizon to red, as if it were determined to stain the earth the same colour.
There were more people and demons swarming around each other than ants swarming around a piece of bread that had fallen to the ground.
The clash of sword against sword, the sound of blade against flesh and bone, screams, and a great deal of red, drenched the land.
War raged in the many towns, castles, and meadows of Midgard. Those who lived in peace fled their homes at the news of war from distant villages, fleeing far away, into the forests and mountains where no roads led.
Those who could not leave, fought valiantly against the armies of evil, but it was not enough.
Town after town has fallen to the demons. At this rate, Ragnarok would be everywhere.
Ragnarok had begun in the lands to the east, and was spreading westward.
The land to the east, Mersfeld, had already fallen into the hands of evil, and across the ocean to the west of Mersfeld, the continent of Heneruk was being taken over by evil forces from its easternmost tip.
It was thought that the entire continent would fall to the evil army, but in the middle of the continent, the evil army's advance was slowing. In the middle of a vast field, the people were desperately trying to hold back the evil army.
At the forefront was a scene unlike anything that had ever happened in Midgard.
A man, his brown hair flowing, swept through the demons with a frenzied sweep of his sword.
The creatures were being swept away at an unbelievable speed, darting this way and that, in a frenzied dance of swords.
It was Siegfried, a young man with brown hair and blue eyes.
The people were energised by his exploits, and they began to drive back the evil army.
The turn of the tide began in the centre of the continent of Henneruk, and spread east across the sea to the continent of Merfeld.
Those who had fled, those who were frightened, and those who were hiding, all came out to help when they heard the news of victory.
As the snowballs rolled down the snow-capped mountains, the army of men against the forces of evil grew larger and larger.
Siegfried was always in the lead. The army of evil thought it would easily take the continent of Henneruk.
He hadn't expected to be pushed as far east as Mercerfeld. Ogres, lizardmen, and even hydras have been mobilised, but even the best of them have fallen to Siegfried's counterattacks.
The army of evil realised that this Ragnarok had been a failure. They have decided to retreat. They didn't know how long it would take, but they needed to build up their strength and plan for the future.
The army of evil boarded their ships, retreated, and headed for the open sea, and peace returned to Midgard.
Siegfried became a hero to the people. But he lived and died in a small hut in the mountains, out of sight and out of mind, raising his family. Then the Valkyries descended on Midgard and took Siegfried to Asgard.
In Asgard there was a palace of warriors called Valhalla.
The roof of the large, ornate palace was covered with shields as big as houses, and the warriors who had fought bravely in Midgard were entertaining themselves.
Arriving at Valhalla, guided by the Valkyries, Siegfried continued to wander around, marvelling at the stunningly beautiful walls, columns, ceilings, floors, and murals of Valhalla.
No castle in Midgard, no matter how splendid and magnificent, could match the splendour of Valhalla.
And so Siegfried gazed around him, fascinated. Far ahead, he saw an old man of great age.
Valkyrie and Siegfried walked closer and closer to the old man.
'Say hello, this is Odin.'
Siegfried was thrilled to see the legendary Odin in person, the one he had only heard about.
True to the legend, Odin's right eye was blindfolded.
'It is a pleasure to meet you, Siegfried.'
Odin looked up at Siegfried with a wide smile.
'I am well aware of your exploits in Midgard. Now live happily ever after in Valhalla. And who knows when the crisis of Ragnarok will come to Midgard again. Valkyrie, you will plant Siegfried's soul in the World Tree of Midgard.'
'Yes, sir.'
As a young man, Siegfried spared his life during the crisis of Ragnarok in Midgard, fighting desperately against the forces of evil. He died and came to Valhalla.
And from Siegfried's body, a soul in the form of blue smoke escaped. It travelled to Midgard.
And it was planted in two World Trees in Midgard, far apart from each other.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)