88

Divine Might

The flying cat was plump and velvety to the touch.

Despite carrying three people on its back, the orange feline was surprisingly swift in flight. Forseti estimated its speed to be several hundred kilometers per hour—a remarkable pace by Earth's standards, especially given its size.

However, by Asgardian standards, this speed was relatively modest, akin to an ordinary Asgardian's sprint. Compared to Hermond, who possessed superhuman speed, even this was considered sluggish.

"Hermond, can you run through the air?" Forseti asked.

"Yes."

"Flight through the air is astounding... Why not carry me? You're much faster than this flying cat," Forseti sighed.

"Meow!" Flying kitty protested, seemingly displeased.

The Light Elf piloting the cat interjected, "You can't disembark without authorization; we must transport you to the designated location."

Three hours later, Forseti and Hermond arrived above the Norn Forest aboard their flying cat. Several other flying cats were also in the vicinity, each delivering members of Hela's hunting party to the same destination.

"What's that!"

Mid-flight, someone suddenly pointed downward and exclaimed, "Flame-Strider Beast!"

All eyes followed the gesture to a crimson leopard with fiery, lustrous fur devouring a deer carcass below. Its vivid appearance made it stand out starkly against the forest backdrop.

"A Flame-Strider Beast here? How is that possible?" murmured the astonished onlookers.

"Are there trolls nearby?"

The Flame-Strider Beast, native to Nornheim, earned its name not from fire magic but from its exceptional speed. When at full tilt, it could generate friction with the air, producing the illusion of flames trailing its form.

While rare in the wilds of Nornheim, most Flame-Strider Beasts were typically owned by troll clans rather than roaming freely.

Before reaching their designated spot, the flying cat didn't pause, and everyone glanced at the Flame-Strider Beast as they soared past.

Nonetheless, excitement rippled through the group. "It's a wild Flame-Strider Beast!"

"We must capture it!"

"Hermond, it's up to you!"

Naturally, Hermond was the only one capable of pursuing the Flame-Strider Beast, courtesy of his superhuman speed.

Eager for the chase, Hermond affirmed, "I remember its location!"

As they neared their destination, a flying cat began its descent.

Observing this, Hermond didn't wait for the cat to land. With a swift leap, he vanished into thin air.

"Meow! Meow!" Kitty cried anxiously.

Forseti dismounted the flying cat, envy gleaming in his eyes as he watched Hermond disappear.

Beside him, Bart remarked, "I wish I could awaken my divine power too."

Forseti nodded in agreement.

"What kind of power do you desire most, Forseti?" Bart asked.

Forseti mused, "Awaking divine power presents a big challenge; it would be good to have it."

Bart grinned, "Divine power isn't everything; you should have dreams. Otherwise, how are you different from mortals?"

Forseti asked, "And what power do you wish for?"

"A divine ability to enlarge a certain part of the body," Bart replied, his mustache curling mischievously.

Forseti frowned, skepticism coloring his expression. "Is such a divine power even possible?"

Bart chuckled, "Yes, every man has one."

Forseti sighed.

The Light Elf and their flying cat departed, leaving Hela and a dozen others in the forest.

Once everyone had gathered, Hela unfurled a map of the Norn Forest and indicated, "This is our current location."

"... We will split into six teams to hunt within this area. After seven days, reconvene at this lake where a designated individual will receive the prey. Once the results of our seven days' hunting are tallied, we will devise our next strategy."

"Yes!"

Continuing, Hela assigned tasks, "The first team will follow me, including Hermond and Forseti."

"Second Team..."

As she organized the teams, Hela distributed maps to the captains of the remaining squads.

Just then, Hermond emerged, stumbling before the assembly, panting and somewhat disheveled.

"Hermond, what happened?" Forseti blinked.

Heimd managed a wry smile. "The Flame-Strider Beast was too fast; I couldn't keep up."

The group erupted into murmurs of surprise.

"The Flame-Strider Beast is that fast?"

"It's my first time seeing one. I didn't expect it to outpace even Hermond."

Hela, momentarily taken aback, swiftly regained her composure. "No matter. If Hermond couldn't catch it, no one in this competition could."

Silence fell over the group.

Hermond, visibly disappointed, slumped to the ground, catching his breath.

Approaching him, Forseti offered reassurance, "With further improvement of your speed and divine power, you'll undoubtedly catch the Flame-Strider Beast."

"Who else competes in the Hunting Festival with a second-tier divine power?" Hermond huffed, still catching his breath from the vigorous chase.

After a moment, he regained his composure and suddenly recalled something, "Wait, that Flame-Strider Beast isn't wild!"

Hermond sprang to his feet and hurried to Hela, "Your Highness, I just recalled—the Flame-Strider Beast was wearing a collar; it isn't wild."

Hela's expression darkened. "It seems trolls are indeed in the vicinity. We must exercise caution."

She then reorganized the teams, consolidating the six into three. In addition to the initial members of the first team, she included two newcomers, Hoddle and Bart.

Once the teams were reshuffled, Hela issued final instructions, dispatching the three squads to their respective hunting grounds.

Under Hela's lead, the first team ventured deeper into the forest.

As they journeyed, Forseti found his attention drawn to Hoddle, a new addition to the team—entirely unfamiliar to him.

Hoddle possessed a wiry frame and black hair, though his appearance... was somewhat unconventional. Despite his youth, his face was deeply lined, pocked with blemishes.

Among Asgardians, renowned for their striking beauty, few were ever described as "unappealing," and Hoddle was undoubtedly one of them.

Yet Forseti, mindful not to judge by appearances alone, found himself intrigued not by Hoddle's looks but by his eyes.

Hoddle carried a longbow slung across his back. While archers typically boasted keen eyesight, his were clouded, suggesting blindness.

"You guessed correctly—I'm blind," Hoddle ( Hodr)declared abruptly.

His voice, hoarse and somber, caught Forseti off guard.