106

Fenris

Forseti continued to scan the Book of Experience and noticed a short paragraph at the end:

**[The Book of Holy Deeds contains strict judgment rules. Please refrain from bold actions against Sally Whitemane, as any violation will result in punishment.]**

Bold actions?

Forseti was momentarily stunned, then realized that he had not anticipated this aspect without being explicitly warned by Shengqi.

Reflecting on it, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret... Whitemane's notable assets, hmm.

With a sigh, he entered the experience space and found himself suddenly transported to a grand hall.

Dimly lit by torches on the walls, the hall exuded an eerie elegance, with intertwining shades of gold and red, blending an atmosphere of sanctity and menace—the hallmark of the Scarlet Monastery.

In the World of Warcraft lore, the Scarlet Monastery stood as a pivotal stronghold of the Scarlet Crusade.

The Scarlet Crusade, an extremist faction devoted to the Holy Light, had splintered from the Knights of the Silver Hand due to their zealous fervor. While their aim was to combat the undead scourge, their methods were ruthless, often causing collateral damage.

Sally Whitemane, the High Inquisitor of the Scarlet Monastery, had been known for her partnership with Renault Mograine, also known as the "Scarlet Dog and Boy." However, following Mograine's demise, Whitemane had continued her crusade alongside a new partner—Scarlet Commander Durand, who now stood before Forseti.

As Forseti faced the bloodied Commander Durand wielding his crimson sword, he knew he had to defeat Durand to confront Whitemane.

"You've come here to meet your end. I'll make it swift!" Durand declared coldly, brandishing his sword.

With those words, he lunged forward, sword slicing through the air.

"Charge!"

Warhammer and greatsword clashed, sparks flying.

"Clang! Clang!"

The battle commenced in a flurry of strikes and blocks, each combatant matching the other's Paladin training and similar levels.

However, Durand's strength was formidable, his heavy crimson sword delivering powerful blows that gradually pushed Forseti back.

Finding an opening, Forseti unleashed his Fist of Verigan.

Justice Strike!

The holy blade erupted from the ground, inflicting a wound on Durand's leg.

Enraged, Durand bellowed defiantly, "I-I am a legend!"

In a flash, he either teleported or moved with blinding speed, slashing at Forseti and severing his arm.

The severity of the wound surprised Forseti; Durand's weapon, sharper than any he had faced before—even sharper than Hogg's Fang—had effortlessly sliced through his armor.

Durand teleported again, appearing beside Forseti to deliver another powerful strike, repeating his legendary boast, "I-I am a legend!"

Forseti managed to block the blow just in time before swiftly exiting the experience space.

"Phew..." Back in the real world, he couldn't help but gasp for breath.

Though aware of the vast disparities in power among foes within the Book of Experience, Forseti found this encounter particularly daunting.

Whitemane's experience log for both genders had already surpassed Hogg's individual strength. It seemed Whitemane remained out of reach for now... Forseti mused.

Of course, his interest in Whitemane wasn't just about her physical attributes but also about deepening his understanding of the Holy Light through this contrasting example.

After a moment's reflection, Forseti took the young wolf cub and sought out Hela once more.

To his surprise, the cub had finally opened its eyes today after several days of waiting, alleviating his initial concerns about its vision.

The wolf cub appeared more alert now, its large azure eyes curious and calm, save for moments of hunger when it quietly observed its surroundings.

"So adorable!"

Initially hesitant, Hela couldn't resist the charm of the wolf cub and hugged it affectionately, stroking its fur with a smile.

As a woman, her maternal instincts kicked in, softening her stance toward the round, soft creature.

The wolf cub seemed equally fond of Hela, licking her palm affectionately. "Wow."

Smiling, Hela asked, "Does it have a name?"

Forseti replied, "Not yet. Your Highness, why don't you name it?"

Hela considered for a moment. "Fenris... How does that sound?"

Forseti was curious. "Why that name? Does it hold special significance?"

Hela stroked the cub thoughtfully before answering, "It's tied to prophecy."

"Prophecy?"

Hela's expression darkened momentarily, recalling ominous revelations from the Norn's Cave about Fenris's future role in Ragnarok.

Then, she asked hesitantly, "Forseti... Would you fight for me?"

Forseti's emotions surged. "I will prevent Ragnarok and ensure no one around me, including you, Your Highness, meets such a fate."

Hela misunderstood Forseti's intent, shaking her head with a sigh. "The true Ragnarok is not as you imagine... I hope you're prepared."

Forseti fell silent.

...

On his way back, Forseti felt a lingering sense of unease.

It seemed Hela had been privy to prophecies from the Cave of Time, forewarning her role as Asgard's future adversary.

Could prophecies truly be immutable? Could foreknowledge of one's actions dictate the inevitable outcome?

As dusk settled, Eir had already returned home.

Just as Forseti approached his doorstep, Eir emerged, cradling a small creature in her arms. "Forseti, you're back. Did you bring this from the hunting festival?"

"That's right," Forseti replied with a smile, patting Shilut's forehead.

"He's adorable, and the first stone-eater I've seen... Does he have a name?" Eir teased Shilut with a stone.

"Shroot," Forseti replied.

"Hey." Shroot attempted to grab the stone from Eir's hand but failed several times.

Eir stopped teasing and fed the stone to Shroot, who happily devoured it before blinking as if something had caught his attention.