The Battle of Midnight

[Yatagarasu's PoV]

The air reeked of blood, sweat, and metal. High-pitched screams and cries of agony echoed through every corner of the grand hall, now a living hell. The once-polished marble floors were slick with pools of blood, making every step a treacherous effort—just staying upright was a battle in itself.

I kept moving, forcing myself to remain conscious amidst the chaos. Blood splattered across my body; I wasn't even sure if any of it was my own.

My eyes caught sight of the Utgard warriors struggling desperately against the Valkyries. Their sheer speed and strength overwhelmed the warriors, and their sluggish chanting of spells left them unable to effectively counter with magic.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a soldier—Arnbjörn—kneeling in exhaustion. A Valkyrie darted toward him from behind, her blade poised for a lethal strike.

Without hesitation, I lunged forward, thrusting Ísskadi into the chest of the attacking Valkyrie. Ice enveloped her instantly, freezing her into a statue. A swift kick shattered her into a cascade of icy shards.

"Lord Yata," Arnbjörn gasped, startled by my intervention. "Thank you."

"There's no time for thanks," I said sharply. "Get to the back and have the healers treat you."

"No, my lord," Arnbjörn said, straightening up with visible effort despite his injuries. "I can still fight."

I narrowed my eyes but chose not to argue. "Suit yourself."

For a brief moment, we locked gazes, and a faint smirk crossed both our faces—a flicker of shared determination amidst the relentless exhaustion. But before we could act further, three more Valkyries closed in, surrounding us with their weapons drawn.

Their sharp eyes were locked on me. It was clear—I was their target.

"So, you're surrounding me?" I sneered, though my breaths were growing heavier. I glanced at Arnbjörn. "Listen carefully. They're after me. Get out of here and help the others, understood?"

Arnbjörn hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded grimly. "Understood, my lord."

Without needing another prompt, he sprinted away, leaving me alone to face the three Valkyries encircling me.

"Now, come at me!"

They charged all at once. I spun my weapon, conjuring a wall of ice around me. The shimmering barrier coiled like a dragon encircling its prey, a masterpiece of frost and mana.

"You're only trapping yourself," one of them mocked.

"Let's see about that."

I didn't deny their taunts—I was well aware of the risks. But the confident grin on my lips made it clear that I knew what I was doing.

They didn't wait long. The Valkyries darted toward me, blades aimed to shatter the icy shield. Yet their efforts were futile. The wall was denser than it appeared, forged of solid mana. Their swords froze on contact, frost creeping along their steel edges.

"Damn it," one of them growled, struggling to free her weapon.

That was my opening. I struck from within, thrusting my spear through the gaps. The first stab pierced one Valkyrie's skull, the second impaled another's heart. The third narrowly evaded my strike, though she abandoned her weapon, which remained stuck in my frozen barrier.

With a single swing, I shattered my own ice wall. But before I could move again, the unexpected happened.

A blinding light flooded the room. In an instant, the opulent hall vanished. The marble beneath my feet was replaced with desolate, barren earth. The air turned frigid and suffocating, the sky above blanketed by menacing black clouds.

"A battlefield…" I muttered, scanning the surroundings. "Master… What is he doing?"

The warriors around me froze in shock, bewildered by the sudden shift. But the Valkyries weren't as forgiving—they attacked relentlessly, indifferent to the surreal transformation.

"Stay focused!" I roared, rallying the Jotun soldiers. "Let's go!" My voice thundered above the chaos, reigniting their fighting spirit.

"Haaah!"

With renewed vigor, the warriors charged. Some unleashed their Jotun forms, growing to towering heights of four to six meters. Beasts of all shapes emerged—birds, cats, foxes, snakes, even creatures resembling dinosaurs. It was a glorious sight, a vivid reminder of the true might of Jotunheim.

"This is the Jotunheim I know," I murmured, baring a wolfish grin.

Eager to prove my worth, I brandished both my weapons—Muramasa in my right hand, Ísskadi in my left. Wielding both simultaneously felt odd, but I was certain it wouldn't hinder me.

A Valkyrie dove at me from above, her spear aiming straight for my chest. I spun out of the way, slashing her wing with Muramasa.

Slash.

Her wing was severed cleanly, feathers scattering as she plummeted. Her scream of agony ended abruptly when I pierced her with Ísskadi, encasing her in ice.

Before I could recover, a shadow darted through the air. White wings sliced through the sky with blinding speed, and her blade nearly severed my head had I not raised Muramasa in time to block.

"Anitra," I growled.

She hovered above me, her piercing gaze brimming with hatred. "You'll regret sparing me and locking me away."

I shook my head, forcing myself to stay calm despite the rage bubbling within me. "I don't regret doing what I believe is right."

She smirked, her expression cold and venomous. "Then you'll die clinging to your foolish ideals, Yatagarasu!"

With that, she launched herself at me, her new blade gleaming under the moonlight as she swung it toward me.

I raised Muramasa, bracing myself as her attack collided with mine. The clash of metal rang out, leaving my arms numb from the force. But she didn't stop. Twisting mid-air, she spun her blade for another strike.

I leapt backward, only to realize that several other Valkyries had joined her. They encircled me, their weapons gleaming under the ominous, cloud-covered sky.

"Damn," I hissed, drawing a deep breath. "Alright, let's do this."

I swung Muramasa forward, forcing them to step back, while my left hand spun Ísskadi, summoning a protective ring of frost around me.

The Valkyries attacked from every angle, but I kept moving, deflecting their strikes with Muramasa and freezing them with Ísskadi.

"I won't lose!" I shouted, though my strength was waning.

Amid the chaos, the heavy sound of something massive hitting the ground reached my ears. My body froze as a giant head—belonging to one of the Utgard warriors—rolled to a stop before me. Its empty eyes stared back, blood still pouring from the severed neck.

My heart sank. That giant had been fighting so valiantly only moments ago. Now, he was nothing more than a lifeless corpse.

"Focus!" I gritted my teeth, forcing back the growing dread threatening to paralyze me. Yet, the situation grew increasingly dire. Anitra and the other Valkyries pressed harder, leaving me with barely any room to maneuver.

"Lord Yata, hold on! We're coming to assist!" one of the warriors shouted, rallying others to my aid as I struggled against the swarm of Valkyries.

Then, a deafening roar of thunder split the air. Lightning struck the ground, scattering some of the Utgard soldiers trying to reach me. The faint hope I clung to flickered out.

The bolts continued to lash out unpredictably, crackling through the air with terrifying intensity. Each strike shook the ground beneath my feet, leaving me struggling to maintain my balance.

"What's with this lightning?" I growled, glancing toward the source of the chaos.

In the distance, I saw Fenrir locked in fierce combat with Thor. Another bolt crashed down, narrowly missing her as she dodged with uncanny agility.

"Fenrir..." I muttered, worry creeping into my voice. But I knew I couldn't abandon my position here.

I could only hope that Fenrir and Loki were strong enough to hold their own against the god of thunder. Yet deep down, I couldn't shake the ominous feeling settling in my chest.

The moment my focus wavered, a Valkyrie's blade came dangerously close to slicing into my exposed right side. My instincts kicked in, and I barely managed to parry the attack with Muramasa. Once again, my reflexes saved me from certain death.

"Hmph, those damned reflexes," Anitra muttered.

Her comment suggested she had been observing me for quite some time. How long had this woman been watching without anyone realizing?

"You know," I let a thin smile tug at my lips as I kept my stance steady. "living beings have something called spinal reflexes—a defense mechanism triggered by certain stimuli. In my case, they activate extremely when I'm close to death."

"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Anitra raised an eyebrow.

I chuckled at the confusion in her eyes. "Don't understand? Then just forget it."

"That was the plan."

Anitra raised her hand high before motioning toward me. The Valkyries around her immediately lunged in unison, their weapons aimed directly at my head.

The battle resumed. I continued dodging and deflecting their relentless attacks, unable to counter. Their teamwork was seamless, giving me no opening to fight back. Frustration began to build as I realized they had the upper hand.

Bit by bit, my clothes tore, and thin crimson lines began appearing across my body. The metallic scent of blood filled my nose as it seeped from each wound.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

I forced myself to concentrate, knowing that one mistake could mean my death.

My eyes darted around, searching for a way to escape the dire situation. Then, a deep, guttural roar ripped through the air, shaking the ground beneath us and freezing everyone in their tracks.

Even the Valkyries faltered, their movements momentarily halted by the sound. That was the opening I needed. Taking advantage of their hesitation, I broke free from their encirclement, slicing through one of them with Muramasa in the process.

"Grrraaaah!"

The roar echoed again, so loud it forced everyone to cover their ears. Whatever creature was making that sound was close—too close.

I turned toward the source, and my breath caught. There it was. The monstrous figure I had once fought in a grueling battle. The beast I couldn't defeat. The monster that had nearly killed me.

A cold sweat dripped down my temple as a faint smirk curved my lips. "Damn it. Why is that thing here?"

Deep down, I could only hope it wasn't after me. If it was, my problems had just gotten a whole lot worse.