Episode 42/Chapter 1 – Great Counter Attack (1)

There were ten realms.

Erin, that was one of them, got destroyed and they became nine.

Asgard, Olympus and the Temple.

Three of the remaining nine realms. Muspelheim and the adjacent realms that could be said to be the headquarters of the ones that hoped for the destruction of the world.

The three realms were fighting.

A battle against the ones hoping for the destruction of the world was the same for the three realms.

Then, what about the remaining six realms?

Would they be the same as the three realms that were at the front?

Would they also be fighting?

Asgard didn't have the leisure to turn to look at the six realms that was behind it.

They couldn't maintain a continuous and rigid cooperation between Olympus and the Temple.

The wall that existed in between a world wasn't something that could be surpassed easily.

Erin got destroyed among the ten realms. It got destroyed the fastest and disappeared.

And there were now nine realms remaining.

And right at this moment.

The fire of destruction was surging once again. It surged up to burn down another world.

&

The magician king Utgard Loki leaned on a broken wall and looked at the direction where Valhalla was.

The frozen time magic was protecting Valhalla. It was a sealing magic that was much stronger than the Great barrier spread in Midgard.

About twenty days ago, several disasters shook Asgard.

Heavy rains, floods, maddening infections and great earthquakes.

The one among them that inflicted the most damage was the great earthquake. The aftereffect that shook the entire Asgard made countless fortresses fall down even before fighting with their enemy.

The magician king, that had dealt damage to the core of the world tree and created a great earthquake, tried to conquer Valhalla in a hurry.

The warriors of Valhalla resisted desperately on top of the broken fortresses but it was futile.

The world wolf took the lead and countless giants followed it. Even the giant kings, that were saving their strength by hiding in Jotunheim, helped the magician king as if this was the right moment.

The magician king smiled bitterly when he thought of what happened 20 days ago. Freya certainly wasn't easy to deal with.

She, that was known to be the most beautiful Goddess of Asgard, quickly admitted the death of Odin. She took all the preparations she could instead of wasting time and sealed up Valhalla.

Because of that, the magician king couldn't take over Valhalla. He did crush the fortresses near it to his heart's content but in the first place, only lowest and inferior ranked warriors and steel warriors were at those places. He couldn't inflict a considerate damage to the real force of Valhalla.

Freya gave up on the several fortresses that were around Valhalla.

She acted that way even though she knew what would happen to them.

It was a cruel and cold decision.

But the magician king got amazed at her. He sent applauses towards her decision as a king.

The king of Gods Odin would have made the same decision as if it was nothing just to achieve victory but it was different for her. He could know as he had observed her as much as he had done so for Odin. That she had come with this decision after a blood boiling anguish.

'It's not the best.'

Freya chose to protect the main forces of Valhalla and prevent its fall. Looking at the big picture, you could say that she chose to buy more time.

It was indeed the best option Freya had currently but the option she chose was extremely reliant on external factors.

Now that the king of Gods had died, there were only two things Freya could hope for.

The first one was that Thor defeated the giants that were outside of Valhalla and broke the encirclement.

It was absurd. Thor was certainly strong. Even the magician king wanted to avoid facing against him head on one by one.

But war wasn't about a duel between warriors.

Thor's army was currently isolated.

Their path got cut off due to the great earthquake and the great army being led by the frost giant king Harmarti was surrounding his army.

The frost giant king was someone with strong patiente. He read the flow slowly and drew a big picture instead of coming to a quick decision.

He would suppress Thor and his army and evade a duel. The important thing was to isolate his army.

The ones that were anxious were Thor and his army, not Harmarti. The more time passed, the ones that got more disadvantages was Thor.

Harmarti would buy time and the magician king would take over Valhalla.

The giant king was experienced. The one that had pulled on the ropes in the front lines against Asgard in the Great war was none other than him. There was no one more experienced than him in Jotunheim on buying time.

'Thor's army won't be able to rescue you.'

One of Freya's hope wouldn't be able to come to light.

And it won't be different for the remaining conclusion.

'Reinforcements from another world.'

The other hope Freya had. The last rope she could hang on earnestly.

There were people that got outside of Valhalla evading the eyes of others in the day Valhalla got sealed.

Part of them moved to transmit the notices to Thor's army but the objective for the others was different. They moved towards Olympus and the Temple.

"We hunted down one more. The reaps aren't that good, perhaps because we are almost done with the fortresses."

The magician king turned his head to the direction the voice was heard at. The beast king Tiachi, that was one of the giant kings, threw a Valkyrie at the feet of the magician king. The Valkyrie that was almost naked was already half dead. There were countless wounds and scars in her body and also traces that she had been toyed with.

The magician king looked at Tiachi.

He was also a small giant like Sigil or Loki.

Transformation techniques were his specialty and his hunting skills were one of the best even among the giant kings.

He had the body similar to those of the warriors of Valhalla as he was a bit taller than 2 meters but his appearances were different from humans. His skin that covered his steel like muscles were red and his fur that had grown like a wolf's was grey. His teeth were like a sharks and his eyes resembled those of an eagle.

He, that was wearing a fur of an evil beast that only lived in Jotunheim, stepped on the Valkyrie that was barely breathing, roughly. He laughed as if it was fun that the Valkyrie twitched and stepped on her a bit more.

"She was heading to the Temple. She's already the thirtieth. Just how many Valkyries did that bitch Freya send to their graves? Especially when she is hiding inside of Valhalla."

They were messengers to notify of Asgard's urgency.

Thirty Valkyries of Hermod's legion, that were especially fast among other Valkyries, was too big of a number.

Because not even Freya would have been able to imagine them getting caught even before they went to the Temple.

"It was indeed good having dispatched you."

Tiachi laughed once again at the words of the magician king that were filled with admiration. If it wasn't for him, that was the best hunter of Jotunheim, others would have ended missing some Valkyries.

Tiachi, that was laughing for a long time, kicked the Valkyrie he was stepping on with his toe to make her turn around and then stepped on her strongly. He closed his eyes and appreciated her strengthless groans as if it was sweet music for his ears. He then raised his head and said.

"Magician king, I believe you remember our promise. The day we take over Valhalla, Freya and Idun shall be mine."

The Goddesses that were known to be the most beautiful and noble among the several Gods of Asgard.

The magician king faced Tiachi's eyes filled with greed and answered gladly.

"I promise you once again Tiachi. They will be yours."

A smile spread on Tiachi's face. The teeth of shark that appeared from beneath shone.

"I liked them since before. You can believe me on this one, it's not a lie."

Tiachi looked at the surroundings of the wall the magician king was leaning on and then tossed the Valkyrie with his feet as if he was handling a ball and grabbed her.

The Valkyrie, that got grabbed by her head, dropped strengthless but she was still breathing.

"He, Valkyries are really nice to play because they are hard. Magician king, next time I will show you the shields I made. This bitch will also become a really nice shield. I'm already looking forward the expression the bastards of Valhalla will make when they see it."

The shields Tiachi was talking about was literally a shield. He tied up the naked Valkyries to a big and square shield and made his underlings carry them. It was a nasty hobby but it was a really good method to drop the morale of the enemy and make them lose their consciousness because of rage.

"I thank your hard work."

Tiachi clicked his tongue at Tiachi's answer and shrugged his shoulders.

"Changing subjects. There is one thing I wanted to ask. Is it really fine to leave Asgard alone?"

The temple wasn't the only realm that was adjacent to Asgard. You could say that Olympus had formed an alliance with Asgard since long ago.

But the magician king didn't raise any defenses at Olympus' side.

And as he had done it too boldly, Tiachi wondered if he had some sort of plan, but it wasn't that there were giants that had moved to their side secretly either.

"It won't be a problem."

Tiachi's eyebrows twitched at the short answer but it soon returned to normal. He nodded instead of prying further.

"How regretful. The number of shields would have doubled if I also caught them."

Asgard would have deployed the same number they dispatched to the Temple to Olympus.

"I will be going now. My 31st hunt could be waiting for me."

Tiachi laughed and turned around.

The magician king turned to look at Valhalla once again instead of tracking the traces of Tiachi that disappeared like the wind. A new voice was heard from the broken wall.

"He's a shallow guy."

It was the giant of night Avalt.

He was the only one that was more of an aide among the Five Fingers rather than a warrior. Because of that, he also wasn't picky on using dirty methods to attain victory but he also had his limit.

If the giant of strength Harad or the giant of earth Balgad were alive, they would have frowned at his nasty actions.

But the magician king rather smiled.

"Right, that's why it's that much easy to handle him. Compared to Hrumbak or the others."

There were no notices from Hrumbak, that had gone to invade Niflheim, for a few days already. He had expected him to act as he wished as he had a sense of rivalry against the magician king but the level was slowly passing the limit.

'I will have to send a messenger in a while.'

It seemed like he was accomplishing his task well as there have been no reinforcements from Niflheim so he would only have to be give him a warning.

"How long until the seal breaks down?"

"It will be over at least in ten days."

The reason they couldn't destroy the Great barrier even after some days passed was because Valhalla didn't stay still either.

But now, the situation was different. There was no one that obstructed with the destruction of the seal.

At most in ten days.

The magician king had already waited a hundred years. Anyone could wait that much.

"I'm waiting for then. Isn't that right Loki?"

The magician king turned his head and asked, but Loki that was hanging on the chains binded to the walls didn't answer. He just looked at Valhalla with his eyes that had lost light.

&

Valkyrie Kaldea, of Hermod's legion forced a smile.

'So i'm going to die like this.'

She had been planning to die more happily while dozens of handsome men watched her.

Rather than dozen of men, there was no one in this place. The only thing that was in the outskirts of Asgard, that was close to the temple, was the corpses of the warriors, fragments of the steel warriors, broken walls and evil spirits.

"Kugh."

Kaldea closed her eyes and let out a groan. Footsteps were approaching from far away. They were the steps of the evil spirits. Normally, she would be able to sweep them up easily but it was impossible to do so right now. Her injuries were too serious. She couldn't even raise her sword with her trembling hand.

'Is there any survivor?'

Could someone head towards the Temple safely?

Several of her sisters got hunted down by the beast king Tiachi, that was really like a beast. Perhaps, Kaldea would be the last Valkyrie remaining.

The footsteps were now near her. Kaldea opened her eyes and looked at the evil spirits that had gathered. She saw that the evil spirits that approached her while letting out hot steam numbered a dozen.

'Dog like bastards.'

It was even hard to curse out loud. Kaldea forcefully endured the pain to stand up and then raised her head while sweating cold sweat. She couldn't pull out her sword but managed to say her final words.

"Come at me."

As she would fight until the end.

If she wasn't able to swing her sword, she would bite them with her teeth. The evil spirits attacked Kaldea and she didn't put her eyes off them. That's why she was able to see it.

An arrow came flying.

It was a fast and strong arrow that was like a stream of light.

About ten more arrows got fired and the exact number of evil spirits collapsed as the number of arrows.

And a strong wind blew. What Kaldea could see after the wind calmed down was the evil spirits that had collapsed like rotten straw.

Kaldea blinked and then put a bright smile instead of forcing one.

"Idun's warrior."

."Kaldea!"

Tae Ho hurriedly ran towards Kaldea, that was about to collapse as soon as she finished speaking. It was the same for Siri, that fired arrows from far away, and Bracky that was next to her.

Tae Ho lied down Kaldea and hurriedly poured potions in the wound of her stomach. He didn't forget to put a piece of golden apple in her mouth either.

"Kaldea, are you fine?"

Kaldea forcefully chewed the piece of golden apple instead of answering Tae Ho. The effects were immediate but drowsiness attacked her because of her overwhelming exhaustion.

Kaldea forcefully opened her eyes that were closing and looked at the ones that gathered next to her. They were all familiar to her.

Tae Ho, Siri and Bracky.

"There aren't dozen of you but i'm still glad that there are handsome men."

Kaldea spoke playfully and closed her eyes. Tae Ho and the others flinched at that and then let a sigh of relief as they heard her snore.

"Handsome. Kaldea certainly has eyes."

Siri frowned as Bracky smiled like a fool and scratched his nose.

"Do you have any conscience? You should look at the mirror at times."

"Ey, why the envy? You also like it."

Bracky acted as if he was embarrassed and hit Siri's shoulder slightly. Cuchulainn spoke the moment her face turned more terrible.

'Why aren't you saying anything? Huh? You should say that the handsome one isn't Bracky but you.'

'There's no need to argue with something obvious.'

'Shameless bastard. I can't even tease you now.'

Tae Ho checked Kaldea's state with 'the eyes of the dragon' and let out a sigh of relief. It seemed like her life wasn't in danger.

Three days after they left the highest branch.

Tae Ho took his eyes off from Kaldea and looked at another place. Rasgrid and the warriors, that had regrouped in Midgard, were approaching them.

'Everything has its order.'

Those were Odin's words. He was currently in Niflheim. The crows that had separated with him were spreading the notices not only in Midgard and Asgard but also in Nidavellir and Svartalfheim and was gathering up forces.

Nidhogg and Hraesvelg hid themselves in Midgard.

They were the trump card Tae Ho and Odin had, just like the magician king used the world wolf.

They would first set a base in Asgard.

Tae Ho looked towards a broken fortress. He could see through his 'eyes of the dragon' that the small fortress was filled with red letters.

Bracky carried Kaldea in his back and Siri was grabbing the magical bow of Tristan, Palenote, with her right silver arm of Nuadha.

"Commander, the order."

Valkyrie Rasgrid said in a low voice. Twenty warriors that were the cream of the crop even among the ones that remained in Midgard waited for Tae Ho's order.

Their objective was taking back the fortress. Setting up a base.

"Let's go."

Tae Ho said briefly. Bracky laughed and followed his order.

Asgard, that got taken by the giants.

It was the start of a great counter attack.

Episode 42/Chapter 1 – Great Counter Attack (1) End