Fight Against Valkyrie

Our faces were close—so close that only an inch separated us from our noses touching. Our eyes locked, and his sharp gaze pierced through my chest like a spear.

"Does he… does he know everything?" I swallowed hard.

Yatagarasu's smirk sent a shiver down my spine. I felt like prey with no chance of escape.

"I already know everything."

"What do you mean, sir?" I tried to feign ignorance, even as cold sweat drenched my entire body.

"Anitra," he called, then shook his head slightly, pulling back just a little. "No, perhaps more accurately… an Asgardian spy."

His words struck me like a blade, ripping apart the fragile composure I had been clinging to. A surge of rage burned inside me—I wanted to scream, to claw that smirk right off his face.

I froze for a second, but instinct took over. I slowly stepped back, preparing to leap and make a run for it. But before I could react, a streak of purple flashed from behind Yatagarasu.

Fenrir.

My eyes widened as she moved at lightning speed. Her hand shot forward, gripping my throat with an ironclad grasp.

"Got you!" she snarled, her fangs glinting as she bared them in a vicious grin.

I thrashed, struggling with all my might to break free, but her grip was unrelenting. Then, with almost laughable ease, she slammed me onto the cold stone floor.

"Aaargh!"

Pain shot through my back, spreading like fire through every bone in my body. My breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought my ribs had shattered.

Fenrir loomed over me, her sharp gaze triumphant. "There's nowhere left to hide, Asgardian!" she spat, tightening her hold around my throat as if to show just how much she despised my kind. "You're not getting away this time."

My lungs burned, and my vision blurred. If this went on, I would suffocate to death.

"No other choice," I whispered under my breath.

With a sharp jolt, I unfurled the white wings I had kept hidden all this time.

The sudden motion startled Fenrir just enough that her grip loosened for a fraction of a second. I seized the chance, driving my knee into her stomach with all the strength I had left. The impact sent her flying several meters back.

I pushed myself up and spread my wings wide, ready to escape through the open window beside me. But then—my eyes landed on Emma.

She stood frozen behind Yatagarasu, her terrified eyes wide and filled with unshed tears. Her face was pale, her body trembling. The sight pierced through me like a dagger—sharp, deep, and agonizing.

I swallowed hard, pushing down the guilt gnawing at my chest. But I couldn't afford to hesitate. I had to escape, regroup, and wait for Lord Odin's reinforcements.

Unfortunately, just as I flapped my wings, a shimmering glow of magic surged around me. A transparent cage materialized out of thin air, trapping me midair beneath the high ceiling of Utgard's palace. The moment my hand touched the barrier, a powerful shock coursed through me, burning my skin.

"What the hell is this?! Who dares imprison me?!" I roared, trying to break free, but the magic was too strong. "Damn it, I can't break it!"

"Ah, so this is the spy."

A smooth yet ironic voice interrupted. I lifted my gaze—and there he was.

A tall figure clad in dark robes with golden embroidery approached me, his every step exuding an air of mischief and authority. Loki. He wore a thin, unreadable smile, and for a moment, I found myself frozen in place.

Gritting my teeth, I glared at him with fury and frustration. "Damn you, you insufferable king," I spat.

Loki ignored my insult. He simply stood a few paces away, that enigmatic smile never wavering. "You were quite impressive, little Asgardian spy," he remarked, and oddly enough, his words carried a ring of sincerity.

I narrowed my eyes. Something about this felt off.

Shouldn't he be furious that his palace had been infiltrated? So why was he praising me? What the hell was going on in that madman's mind?

"Good work, Loki," Fenrir muttered as she cracked her knuckles. "Now, I can beat the crap out of her as much as I want."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to hurl more insults.

But then, Yatagarasu suddenly stepped forward. He gently placed a hand on Fenrir's shoulder and pulled her back with a calm, almost graceful motion.

"Fenrir, let me handle this."

"Huh?"

Fenrir blinked, her ears twitching in confusion.

Yatagarasu only smiled at her, his expression unreadable. "This time, let me be the one to fight her."

Fenrir frowned but ultimately sighed in resignation. "Fine, if that's what you want."

And now, Yatagarasu turned to me. His piercing gaze was colder than before, sending a chill through my bones. The air around him felt dark and oppressive, his presence suffocating.

Unconsciously, I swallowed hard. "Damn… he's going to use me as his training dummy, isn't he?"

A bead of cold sweat slid down my temple. I knew just how strong this bastard was. And now, he was pointing his spear straight at me.

*****

[PoV: Yatagarasu]

I stepped forward, gripping my spear tightly in my right hand. My heart pounded faster as I became fully aware of my opponent— a Valkyrie.

A figure often depicted as a strong and loyal warrior maiden, created by Odin long ago in preparation for Ragnarok.

"Be careful, because I won't be helping you, Yata."

"Understood, Master."

Loki snapped his fingers. The cage shifted colors, and then, its door creaked open as if inviting me inside.

With unwavering resolve, I stepped through the entrance.

The moment I was inside, the atmosphere around me changed drastically. It felt as though the space within the cage had expanded beyond its physical limits.

"Spatial distortion, huh..." I muttered under my breath, quickly grasping the situation.

I shook my head and focused my gaze on Anitra—the Valkyrie now floating before me.

She murmured an incantation, and in an instant, her entire body was engulfed in a blinding light. When the light faded, she was clad in full armor, a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

I smirked. This girl… she truly looked just like the Valkyries depicted in Norse paintings and poetry.

Unfortunately, my smile soon faded as I reminded myself—this girl standing before me was not my ally. She was my enemy. Tightening my grip on my spear, I let out a slow breath.

I took a defensive stance, positioning my back foot bent while my front foot remained straight, my spear aimed forward. My sharp gaze locked onto Anitra, analyzing her movements, predicting her first strike.

Not stopping there, I channeled mana through my veins, enhancing my physical abilities. Then, as an extra precaution, I coated my body with a thin layer of mana, forming a small additional layer of armor.

"Come at me whenever you're ready," I challenged, my voice low and intimidating.

"Hah, don't regret saying that," Anitra sneered.

She wasted no time. Beating her wings, she shot toward me like a storm, her sword aimed straight at my heart, prepared to strike without mercy.

I smirked. With a subtle flick of my spear's tip, I deflected her attack. Then, with a swift push, my spear nearly found its mark, forcing her to dodge by soaring upward at the last second.

"Damn it! What the hell was that move? How did you do that?" Anitra clenched her jaw in frustration.

I remained silent, my smirk widening. If it had been the old me, I would have struggled against her. But now, after enduring rigorous training from both Loki and Fenrir, I had grown—enough to confidently take on a Valkyrie.

Anitra swiftly circled around, trying to attack from my blind spot.

Though I noticed it, I made no effort to react, instead loosening my muscles.

She clicked her tongue in irritation and shouted, her voice laced with anger at my indifference. "You'll regret underestimating me!"

Feeling insulted, she recklessly charged, leading with her shield. It seemed she intended to use her aerial maneuverability to ram into me with full force.

Just before her shield could collide with my body, I leaped high into the air. My body spun midair, graceful as a circus acrobat.

Anitra's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible..."

But I didn't give her time to process it. While still airborne, I shifted my spear downward, thrusting it toward her with all my strength.

She attempted to dodge by dashing sideways, but it was too late. The tip of my spear grazed her arm, leaving a long, deep gash. Fresh blood dripped down, staining her armor with streaks of crimson.

She gritted her teeth, her expression shifting to one of fury and caution. Flying backward, she put distance between us, gripping her sword tighter.

"You bastard..."

I gave her a sly smirk, glancing at the blood pooling beneath her. "Is this all a Valkyrie can do?" I taunted, hoping to provoke her further.

But she didn't respond. Instead, her eyes grew colder and sharper, burning with an unyielding determination. Then, she retaliated. Her body shot forward, swinging her sword in a flurry of swift, deadly strikes.

Left. Right. Front. Back. I parried every attack, my spear meeting her blade in a series of rapid clashes. Sparks flew each time our weapons connected.

Though her attack pattern seemed repetitive, I soon realized—her speed, power, and intensity were gradually increasing. It was becoming harder to deflect or evade her strikes.

"Looks like you're getting serious," I muttered, my breath heavy. Instead of feeling intimidated, I felt my adrenaline surge. The fire within me burned brighter, pushing me to defeat her.

However, as I analyzed her attack patterns, I finally spotted an opening.

Anitra maneuvered through the air, preparing to strike again. I could clearly see her next move—a horizontal slash aimed at me.

Reacting instantly, I dodged by sliding low. Then, with one swift motion, I swung my spear with all my might. The tip of my spear struck her armor with a resounding impact. Though it didn't pierce through, the sheer force sent her flying.

She crashed against the cage's ceiling with a loud, echoing bang. A surge of electricity crackled through her body, and a pained cry escaped her lips. Her form plummeted, tumbling uncontrollably through the air. Her feathers scattered, fluttering down like a bird struck by lightning.

"It's over, Anitra."

I locked my gaze on her falling body and pointed my spear upward, ready to strike the moment she hit the ground—to end this battle in my favor.

But her battle instincts saved her at the last second. Just before my spear could pierce her, she flapped her wings with her remaining strength, barely managing to propel herself away. Her movement lacked its former agility, but she escaped nonetheless.

I clicked my tongue in mild irritation. "Still standing, huh?"

She wavered in the air, one hand clutching her chest, likely suffering from internal damage. Her breathing was ragged, yet the fire in her eyes remained.

"If that's the case, I won't give you another chance," I muttered, dashing toward her while twirling my spear.

Despite her injuries, she was still stubborn. She maneuvered through the air, flying in unpredictable patterns to make it harder for me to catch her.

I didn't hesitate. Utilizing my self-crafted aerodynamic magic, I stepped into the air. By summoning floating magic circles in a calculated formation, I leaped from one to another, moving swiftly like a squirrel hopping between tree branches—effortlessly following her every movement.

Before she could react, I lunged and wrapped my arms around her tightly, locking her in place.

"Annoying bastard! Let go of me, you pervert!" she shrieked as we plummeted from the sky. "Have you no shame, touching a beautiful maiden with your filthy hands?!"

"If I let you go, I won't be able to bring you down, you damn Valkyrie."

Ignoring her incessant protests, I kept my grip firm around her, ensuring that she hit the ground first so I could use her as a cushion for my fall.

Thud.

A loud crash echoed through the floor, leaving a few cracks in its surface. I stood over Anitra's motionless body.

Now, she lay limp beneath my feet—completely defeated.

Loki's cage slowly began to fade, dissolving as proof of my victory. In the distance, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

"Incredible, Yata!" Fenrir ran toward me and embraced me tightly. "I can't believe you actually took her down so easily!"

"Thanks for the praise, Fenrir." I gave her a soft smile before gently releasing her hug.

Suddenly, Emma and her two companions rushed toward Anitra's unconscious body, their eyes brimming with tears.

"Anitra..."

"She's just passed out. No need to worry too much."

They let out a relieved sigh upon hearing my words. Even though Emma was a Valkyrie herself, it seemed they still considered Anitra a dear friend.

"Umm..." Emma hesitated before stepping closer. "What... what do you plan to do with Anitra now?"

"I still need to extract any information she might have," I admitted, then shifted my gaze to Loki. "But after that… the final decision is up to Master."

Loki let out a deep sigh, his eyes lingering on Anitra's unmoving form, flanked by her worried companions.

"For now, I'll imprison her until I decide on a suitable punishment."

"Can... can you at least make sure she stays alive?" Emma's voice trembled with emotion. "I know this is selfish of me, but to me, she's still my friend. But if that's impossible..." Her voice caught in her throat, unable to finish her sentence.

Loki merely shrugged, then walked over to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. A somber smile crossed his lips.

"...So it's impossible, then?" Emma murmured, clenching her fists tightly.

"I understand how you feel, but I need time to determine an appropriate punishment for her," Loki said.

"Let's just hope I don't end up sentencing her to death." With a snap of his fingers, Anitra's body vanished in an instant.

"You can visit her in the underground prison," Loki informed them. "Don't worry—I've already arranged for a doctor to be stationed there, so she'll receive immediate medical attention."

"Thank you, my king," Emma whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Silence settled over us for a moment. Then, without another word, we left the room, allowing the three of them to grieve in peace.