ICU

"Hey, why don't we just get up from —"

ZOOM!

"Eeeek ...!"

Kai, who was on Odin's shoulder, screamed when a snake-headed tentacle almost hit his face. However, Odin quickly caught the head of the snake that was already an inch away from Kai's face.

"Hisss... Shaaa...!"

The snake's voice scared Kai even more so he shouted in panic, "Eeekkk ...! D-Do something!"

On the other hand, Odin stared intently with the [Authority] power of the 'Heavenly Raven's Eyes' at the figure of a giant monster with its upper body looking like a fat woman, while its lower body is a snake.

It would be difficult if he did not use his original [Authority] power, on the other hand it was like putting himself at risk of being discovered by those conservative elders of Heavenly Councils.

However, Odin didn't have much time to think.

"Void Authority: Body Strengthening 100 Times," Odin said, "Unlock Brunhilde's Thread."

[Double Authorities Detected]

[Authorities access permitted]

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! ZAP!

After the [System]'s sound was heard, a bolt of electricity shot rapidly through the snake-headed tentacle Odin was holding towards Echidna's figure.

"Graah ...!" Ekhidna screamed in pain with the effects of the lightning still blazing on her body.

Kai suddenly covered both ears that felt like they were going to burst. Meanwhile, Odin only frowned without releasing his grip from the snake-headed tentacle.

RATTLE! RATTLE! SWOOSH!

Echidna's scream caused the snow mountains to collapse and the ice rocks to break apart. Even though she was in pain from the electricity flowing through her body, Ekhidna was still able to make a giant crystal rock using her power and throw it at Odin.

The incident was so fast, Odin did not have time to activate his other [Authority] powers to destroy the giant crystal rock that was shot towards him. So he chose to release his grip on the snake's head and jumped aside to dodge.

SMASH! CRASH!

WOOSH!

The crystal rock crashed into an iceberg and caused another landslide behind Odin.

"Aaahhh! W-Why I c-can't get up from — Eeekkk!" Kai cried out in increasing panic as he felt his body shoot upwards so fast.

When Kai accidentally looked down, he saw explosions occurring in a large area and causing bursted snow upwards. Seeing that, Kai became even more panicked.

"Aaahhh ...! What a bad —"

"Tsk, shut up! We'll get in more trouble if you move too much!" Odin said loudly while avoiding the ice burst from below.

"Y-You're kidding! How can I — Ahh! Watch out!"

"Tsk!" Odin snorted in annoyance.

A giant crystal rock suddenly shot towards them again. In this position it was impossible for Odin to smash the ice boulder because the splinters could hit the Kai that he was carrying. So Odin planted his foot on the rock in a horizontal position.

ZOOM!

CRASH!

He then pushed the rock back with the force of his foot and at the same time Odin moved in the opposite direction. The rock shattered after hitting Echidna's body and was then followed by the sound of Ekhidna screaming in pain.

TAP!

Just as Odin managed to reach a big rock as his foothold, suddenly hundreds of big crystal needles shot towards him. With his quick reflexes, Odin managed to jump up to dodge.

ZOOM!

While Odin was in the air, the snake-headed tentacle suddenly shot out from behind him and was about to sink its fangs into Kai's leg.

However, with the time remaining from the activation of the 'Heavenly Raven's Eye', Odin can still see in all directions within a radius of 1000 meters. So he dodge the attack from behind easily. It was like he had unlimited visibility when using the 'Heavenly Raven's Eye' [Authority].

"Damn it! How did this monster become so smart?" Odin said when he managed to tread on the snow surface.

Ekhidna was the mother of monsters, a creature from the failed experiment of the Research Gods in Heaven. Supposedly, Ekhidna was not so strong and not smart at all, she is just a creature that has fast reproduction like a queen bee or queen ant. But somehow, the Echidna he was fighting right now was very smart.

DING!

[Mission Alert!]

[Time Remaining 00:14:59]

Odin chuckled in annoyance when he saw the notification from the [System]. Not much time left — he thought.

With a short sigh, Odin made a decision. Whether he was caught or not, it would be his business later - he thought.

"Void Authority: Heavenly Crow Shadows," Odin said as he pointed his right palm at Ekhidna.

[Authority access permitted]

Afterward, millions of black and white crows out of Odin's palm. They then flew towards Ekhidna.

"Kraa...! Kraa...! Kraa...!"

"Caw...! Caw...! Caw...!"

The crows' voices almost filled the entire Audhol area.

"Graa ...!" Ekhidna screamed in pain again, as the crows began to swarm over her body and nibble at her skin and flesh.

Ekhidna was about to counterattack with the snake-headed tentacles on her right hand.

However, Odin activated the continuation of the spell quickly.

"Explode!"

BOOM!

The millions of crows covering up Echidna's body exploded simultaneously and then followed by Echidna's long cry.

"Graaaa ...!!!"

SMASH!

Echidna's long cry ended with her giant body collapsing onto the surface of the thick snow.

Not long after, [System] notification sounded again and Odin couldn't help but have a haughty smile on his face. He then put Kai down who fainted because felt too much adrenaline.

DING!

[Congratulations!]

[Punishment Mission Has Success]

[Obtained Heart of Echidna]

[User's Soul Returns in 10 Seconds]

Odin closed his eyes with a sardonic smile and said, "Hey, kiddo. Listen to me for the last time ..."

[... 9 ... 8 ...]

"After this, live well by trusting the Gods ..."

[... 4 ... 3 ...]

"Pray to Us and We will help you solve your hardship ..."

[... 2 ...]

"Then, farewell ... kiddo."

[... 1]

[Transferring User's Soul]

Both Odin and Kai figure being sucked in a black hole that was suddenly formed and then disappeared along with the black hole.

...

August 31th, 2023

Detroit, Michigan (United States of America)

ICU Room, Hospital.

...

In the room, a group of people dressed in a blue suit looked so busy. One of the people there seemed to be holding a pacemaker while looking worriedly at the boy lying pale on the bed.

He then shook his head slowly with a resigned look. The people around him looked at each other for a moment, before they finally sighed resignedly behind their masks.

One of them was about to put a blanket over the boy's head, indicating the boy was dead. However, the boy immediately got up from sleep.

THUD!

One of the people who was about to cover the cloth fell down and looked at the boy in shock.

On the other hand, Odin, who had just woken up, thought that he was in his home, Valhalla, in Supreme Heaven. He squinted his blurry eyes, looking at the group of people in front of him which he thought were the Elders of the Heavenly Councils.

Odin smiled resignedly. He had prepared himself to receive punishment for being caught breaking the rules of Heaven.

Slowly his vision got better and Odin instantly knew that he had not returned to his origin.

Odin's right eye twitched in annoyance and an awkward smile appeared on his face. He then took a deep breath to try to control his emotions.

"Why did I come back to this fucking place?" Odin said in disbelief.