A delicate balance 1.35 - ING. VERSIÓN

Viggo saw the ogre move forward one step at a time. His eyes emitted a murderous glow that was accentuated by those large fangs protruding from his mouth. On his head and shoulders protruded protruding protrusions like long spines. Reddish-skinned and with a tribal painting on his face and his whole body as if he were a warrior. His arms were massive and powerful, with a kind of scales that shielded him from the elbows to the hands. On the other hand, his legs were short for his large size. He walked hunchbacked, leaning on his knuckles.

Viggo saw him getting bigger and bigger as he got closer. At first glance he must have been more than 3 meters tall, perhaps more if he had stood with his back straight. Viggo gritted the grip on the axe and finally frowned, feeling the clear pain of his torn muscles. However, that was unimportant. All he cared about was understanding the structure of the creature and how to overcome it.

The ogre crouched down a little and gave a huge jump spanning more than 5 meters away. Viggo opened his eyes in an expression of disbelief, jumped aside instinctively, and the ogre fell hitting the ground with his huge fists. The earth shuddered and the soil cracked from the single impact. Viggo fell one meter from the ogre, rolled and stood up at the same instant. Then he began to step back, looking at the creature and evaluating its opportunities.

-Damn- Viggo murmured, feeling the intense pain in his legs. It seems that they were made of thread, because felt them falter with each step. His arms felt weak and for some reason his eyelids weighed on him. Viggo waited for the ogre to move, thinking that he would only walk slowly or jump. So, if he were vigilant, he could avoid any attack. However, the ogre ran nimbly forward, his arms outstretched, and caught him in his hands. Viggo let out an agonizing cry at the powerful grip and pain of his torn muscles. His whole dream went away suddenly and all he could do was twist between the huge hands. However, the ogre roared opening his huge jaws and let four long fangs be seen. Then he squeezed it in his hands and Viggo felt that life was going away. However, when he thought this could not get worse, the ogre picked him up in his left hand and slammed him face to the ground.

Viggo was left inert as the ogre backed away looking at what he had done. Viggo's eyes began to lose their brightness and his vision began to close until it became dark. Then Viggo heard Kratos voice in his mind:

<<-So, this is the end of your path?-

-Never- Viggo shouted at the time. They were boxing in the backyard and that day their master had been especially severe in his teaching. After a long battle, Viggo had been left lying on the ground.

-So why do I see you resting on the floor?-

-I'll get up, I'm not weak, I'm just getting tired-

Kratos let out a grunt full of skepticism and said -save excuses for someone who cares-

-These are no excuses- Viggo muttered, resting his hands on the ground.

-Whatever, if that's all you have, go home-

-I've already said it, I'm just tired- Viggo said as his red hair covered his eyes. At the same time, he felt his arms fail him and his eyes overflowing with tears.

-Do not apologize, be better-

-I know- Viggo shouted in his desperation -I know, I must be better; I know I must be stronger. I know I am weak, but one day I will be the most powerful of all-

-Then stand up, Viggo- Kratos said -just think about resting when you've breathed your last breath. This is the time to show what you're worth—>>

-AAAAAAAh- Viggo screams in despair, as if he is struggling to get out of the depths of hell. His eyes had the brightness of the living again, and he remembered that he was struggling with the ogre. He looked at the ogre who had stepped back his second step and looked at him waiting for him to do something. Viggo rolled in the opposite direction, stood up as badly as he could and took his axe with the forces he had left. Despite the pain and blood loss, he felt his mind fresh and his thoughts orderly. As he gasped, he looked at the big, powerful ogre, but by no means felt overwhelmed. On the contrary, he thought this was his chance.

The ogre reacted by throwing a beastly roar and showing his huge fangs. Both ran to meet each other. The ogre gave a little jumped, raising his huge arms and dropping them like huge hammers. At the same time, Viggo slipped underneath. The ogre fell hitting the ground with all his strength and making the earth rumble. Viggo stood up and stood on his back, took the axe with both hands, and uttered a war cry with all the fury of his heart as he threw a powerful axe. He hit the back of the knee, the ogre squatted down, and Viggo climbed on his back using the spine-like bumps. Once he reached the shoulders, he stood up and took the axe with both hands. The ogre raised his right hand to catch him, but Viggo repelled him with the axe and cut off four fingers with a single axe. Then he lifted the axe and discharged it with all his strength on the ogre's head. The axe cut the flesh and part of the bone, made the ogre scream in pain, but it was not enough.

The ogre raised his other hand to hit Viggo, but he repelled him with an axe to his wrist. Then Viggo once again raised the axe and unloaded while he shouted with all his strength. The axe passed by opening the flesh, the skull and cutting the brain in half. The ogre gave an agonizing roar and fell forward. At the same time, Viggo felt himself falling as he tried to hold on to the axe that had been stuck in the ogre's skull. However, for some reason he was unable to hold his grip. His body followed the inertia of the fall, rolling and falling backwards to the ground. Viggo let out a choked scream as he put his hands behind his back. It was such a pain that it seemed to have been paralyzed for a moment. However, he soon became truly paralyzed. His arms and legs were unresponsive. Viggo tried to raise his head and saw that his forearms had wide purple bruises and in the middle of them were several cuts like bleeding lips. Then, the ground that should always be warm because of the intense heat that Muspelhein had, seemed cold to him.

Viggo tried to say something, but it only sounded like a mute babble. He saw the sky covered with yellow and orange clouds. Also, the embers like fire moths flying in the air. Suddenly his sight began to cloud, and his eyes closed.

The old Xiao who was guarding everything from beginning to end, under the sky, and once he reached the obsidian ground of the training ground, he looked at Viggo's small body, while a little further away was that of the ogre. Then he raised his gaze to the skies of yellow and orange clouds - This is not what we had agreed- he said with a loud voice. The next instant a guttural voice was heard reverberating throughout the Muspelheim sky.

-I know it's a challenge, I'm clear about it- Xiao replied -but he's just a beginner-

The guttural voice reverberates angrily in the sky as the earth trembled. At the same time, several volcanoes burst into flames and ashes.

-I know, I know, this place is not a playground. Whatever, are you going to help him?-

The guttural voice was silent, and only the explosion of the volcanoes in the distance was heard. Xiao narrowed his eyes and began to think of an optional way to help Viggo. It seems that he had been mocked, he didn't care much as he could always punish a small fire giant. The first thing he did was look at Viggo and make a gesture to close all the wounds that had opened all over his body. If this continued like this, he would bleed to death.

At the same time, the guttural voice reverberated again through the skies of Muspelheim and Xiao looked at the sky.

-Really?- asked Xiao in amazement -my boy, I had read you wrong. I knew you were an honorable warrior-

The next instant, a small red pearl appeared in front of Xiao. His eyes widened in an expression of disbelief -are you sure?- he asked in amazement at the generous reward.

The guttural voice sounded once again reverberating through the heavens, and Xiao felt a little bad for having doubted Surtr. He let out a sigh and nodded. Then he looked once again at the heavens and said -thank you very much, this young man will become strong thanks to your generosity-

Xiao stretched out his palm, and the red pearl flew into his hand. Primordial blood of the first giant Ymir. Only one drop remains and Surtr had it destined for the person who overcame all his challenges. Viggo was far from achieving that, this alone was the first challenge arena. However, considering how young and brave he was, Surtr decided to give it to him. On the other hand, Xiao wasn't the only one who could see the future, but Surtr couldn't make him dumb either.

Xiao looked at the pearl with the blood of the first giant and brought it closer to his eye. He nodded several times when he found that he was in perfect condition. However, if he wanted Viggo to fully realize his potential, he had to occupy his power by bringing the spiritual strength of the giants. So Old Xiao put the blood pearl between his palms and emitted a purple aura. After a minute, Xiao separated his hands and saw that the pearl had become purple. He nodded and then walked to Viggo. He takes his head from the back of his neck and lift it up. Then he brought the pearl in his left hand and carried it to his forehead. The pearl entered as if Viggo's body were water and the next instant, his whole body began to emit a purple miasma. Xiao left him lying on the ground and watched as Viggo's body rose into the air. Then the purple miasma turned golden and Viggo's body glowed incandescent like the sun.

Half a day later, the incandescent glow began to wane. At the same time, old Xiao was watching the changes and doing his calculations. Viggo's body began to descend, and Xiao came over to receive it.

-It seems to happen to me a little- Xiao said as he caught Viggo's body in his arms. The wounds were healed, and the skin had a better healthier tone than before. Their bones were more robust and their skin more resistant. However, his body was about thirty centimetres smaller.

-Oh, for the heavens, you're not going to like this- old Xiao said with some discomfort. He let out a sigh and smiled -well, bad weather, good face. This will also help what Kratos asked of me-

Then Old Xiao looked up at the sky and shouted -thank you very much, but don't go overboard. I can also look at what has changed in the future. He will come back for that girl and set her free, I promise-

The guttural voice let out a growl that made the whole earth tremble. Old Xiao let out a chuckle and looked for the last time at the fiery land of Muspelheim. Then he closed his eyes, concentrated where he wanted to go and vanished next to the young Viggo, who now, would be the little brother that Flora longed for so much. Viggo had rejuvenated until he was eight years old.