Author: Yume Neiji

The cheers and smiles of the dwarves warmly filled the hall. The white dwarves flitted through the air while the black dwarves on the ground clapped their hands. Our companion, the dwarf blacksmith, Safi, was also overjoyed at their reunion after 1,000 years.

“…But…”

Felix-san suddenly spoke up. His narrowed eyes were hard to tell from a smile, but he was looking down, seemingly in deep thought. His coronet glittered beneath his black hair.

“The revival of the dwarven kingdom is without a doubt a tremendous gain in terms of strength. But…”

But, what?

Brushing dust from her red hair, Mia-san raised an eyebrow.

“What is it? Supplies? Negotiations with the lord? That kind of thing?”

That’s what I thought too.

After all, there were matters to confirm—the fact that titan ashes had once been mined here, or that a golem master might have been involved. As a member of the Raven Warriors, Felix-san was probably concerned about such shady dealings in the dungeon.

“That’s part of it, and…”

A gust of wind whistled down through the crack in the ceiling. The sun was out and spring was near, yet the morning breeze still carried a chill.

Hunting God Uru let his brown pigtails sway as his eyes narrowed.

“…Felix, I think you have good instincts as a scout. We gods feel the same way.”

It was Thor who picked up the conversation, nodding gravely.

“I thought the same thing when we fought the World Serpent. ‘What’s Odin planning to do about all this commotion?’ I wondered.”

I blinked in surprise. Sure, we knew monsters were lurking there, and we’d defeated them… but still—

Thor’s crimson eyes locked on me.

“Think about it, Rion. Part of the dungeon collapsed, and a serpent that huge crawled out. Have you ever heard of such a thing happening before?”

I shook my head hard. If a monster like that had ever emerged from a dungeon so close to town, it would have been a major incident.

“—Ah!”

That was when I finally understood what Thor had been trying to say.

A major incident had just taken place in the mining town of Alvis—and not long after the trouble at the Eastern Dungeon near the capital.

“…When you say ‘commotion,’ you mean the world itself beginning to fall into chaos?”

The gods each gave a small nod in unison.

Sigris, the God of Medicine, planted her spear on the ground and spoke first.

“Rion, the world as it is now—in the Kingdom of Asgard—has kept the true myths hidden. That the gods nearly lost. That they covered the world in sealing ice to postpone defeat. And on top of that, they maintained a fragile peace.”

Memories of everything I had been taught since childhood flashed through my mind.

—The Odis Temple, said to oversee the dungeons. The nobles who received divine skills from Odis-sama himself.

“Of course, I don’t think everything was going smoothly. But even so, I believe the world was stable. As long as people believed in the myths, even if they were false, they would be protected.”

Sigris spoke up. Felix-san suddenly looked up hearing that.

“…Yes, that’s right. If that many monsters appeared, it wouldn’t be surprising if everything that’s been said about the dungeon up until now would be called into question. If things went wrong, the authority of the temple and the royal family would be shaken, and in turn, the entire kingdom would be destabilized… is that it?”

At that moment, we felt like the air was shaking. We snapped our heads upward as if jolted by an unseen force.

To all adventurers

That was the chief god, Odis-sama—no, Odin-sama’s second general message.

◆◆◆

At the river that flows at the foot of the Alvis mines.

One tributary flows into the town of Alvis, providing river transport for metals to the royal capital. The other diverges away from the town of Alvis, snaking through the mountains before finally reaching the northern plains.

Just now, a woman in a black robe emerged from the river. Water dripped from her chilled body, her pale hands gripping a tree and pulling herself up. Finally, the woman reached the shore and exhaled. Perhaps because her body was so cold, her breath didn’t come out with white breath.

Then the sound of hooves came.

“Hahaha! What a shame!”

The man who arrived on horseback was dressed in fine attire.

“Rata…!”

“I’m relieved you survived. Losing you right after Surtr would have been… troublesome, to say the least.”

From atop his horse, Rata extended a hand toward Jor.

“Where the hell did you go…?”

Jor glared at the shrewd merchant with thinly veiled resentment.

“Oh, now, let’s not call it desertion, shall we? For the sake of my honor, I must remind you—combat isn’t my line of work. Rata is a master of trade, a whisperer of secrets, and a handler of uh-… delicate transactions I could say. I’m the one who runs the slave operations, remember? You, on the other hand, wouldn’t even know how to read the first stroke of a ledger.”

Dripping with water, Jor dragged herself forward inch by inch. Like a black serpent that slithered past, a wet trail marked the ground behind her.

“…So? Did you get it?”

“Yes. I slipped in under disguise and borrowed Surtr’s magic stone. Once Ymir-sama consumes it—his power to break the seal will awaken.”

Still, it came at a cost.

Rata glanced toward the mountain, visible through the gaps between the trees, and gave a small shrug. The roar from earlier felt like a lie. The mountain peak now stood quietly, bathed in the soft light of morning.

“Well then, shall we go? The Raven Warriors aren’t fools. I heard hoofbeats not long ago.”

“…Tsk.”

Dragging her body forward, Jor gripped the horse’s side with her pale arm and hauled herself up behind Rata.

“…Hurry up and go.”

“Wait a moment.”

As Jor looked puzzled, Rata pointed to the sky above.

◆◆◆

To all adventurers.

The words began in the same way as the general message I had heard some time ago.

My skin broke out into goosebumps.

A monster bringing about the end of the world has appeared in the mining town of Alvis. But there is no need to fear any longer. With the sounding of the horn, heroes have arrived, and they have triumphed over the powerful monster.

Heroes…?

Those words sank into my heart.

Mia-san and even Felix-san, who  is usually cynical, were listening intently to the message. There is something about this god’s voice that stirred reverence in all who heard it.

Adventurers, use the skills you have been granted. Defeat the monsters. So that you may become heroes.

Go forth and become heroes.

Those words—left behind by the antique shop owner… no, by Odin-sama—flitted through my mind.

When the apocalypse is overcome, the heroes shall be blessed by the gods.

The message ended there.

It had echoed through the clear sky, and surely, it had resounded across the world in the same way.

For a single moment, there was silence. Then, from far off in Alvis, cheers could be heard.

“H-heroes?”

I couldn’t help but mutter.

Solana floated up. She closed her eyes and listened to the cheers that were ringing out from her ears.

“I see.”

The goddess’s gaze wandered into the sky, as if searching for something.

Thor crossed his thick arms.

“So, that schemer had two goals in mind.”

Raising his firewood-like fingers, Thor addressed us.

“First, we need to win the initial battle, which means defeating Flamebone Surtr. He’s the source of the titan ashes, and he’s a powerful monster, too.”

Perhaps Odin-sama had been planning this development from the moment we boarded the carriage to Alvis—or perhaps from the moment we heard the dwarves’ voice in the western dungeon.

This thought suddenly crossed my mind.

Thor pointed his chin to the sky.

“And there’s one more thing…listen.”

The cheers of the adventurers echoed through the heavens. Even without the blessing of the Hunting God, I could hear them from far away, all the way in Alvis.

I stroked my goosebumps. The feverish groans made the screams seem like a lie.

“Everyone… they are not scared anymore?”

“Kukuku, well, isn’t that simple? Because they heard the voice of a god, they’ve come to believe that even the appearance of monsters is part of the gods’ will.”

It may be just as Loki said.

The people of Alvis witnessed the moment when the World Serpent, Jormungandr, disappeared.  

—The moment when the mythical monster was defeated.

The message also announced that the terrifying monster that had shook the earth had been defeated.

“I can sense their strong trust in god even now. In fact…stronger than before.”

Solana spoke.

The adventurers of this town may be thinking this right now. A world unlike any before, a world like a heroic tale, has begun.

For instance, harvesting magic stones worth hundreds of gold coins from towering monsters. Or adventurers, even those without noble blood, being recognized by the gods for their achievements. Or seeking strength through rare materials and items never before seen. A world overflowing with such opportunities.

“Hmph!”

Thor snorted through his nose.

“In short, by awakening creatures straight out of the mythic age, parading them around, and having us strike them down in spectacular fashion, he’s fired up the adventurers. Word of today’s battle will spread—far beyond the royal capital.”

“B-but… why? Why would Odin-sama do something like that?”

Thor did not answer that.

I lifted my gaze to the clear blue sky.

Most adventurers dove into dungeons to fight monsters and claim magic stones as resources. But, of course, many also sought to make a name for themselves.

“…One thing’s for sure—Odin has no intention of returning the kingdom to the safe, stable world it once was.”

The words from the divine message lingered in my ears—hero and blessing. A blessing awaits the hero who survives the apocalypse.

But what lies… beyond the apocalypse?

“A hero huh…”

The words he muttered softly seemed to be carried away by the passing wind.

◆◆◆

A plump old man walked through the increasingly bustling town of Alvis at an unhurried pace. The backpack on his back shook with each of his steps. The antique dealer slowly looked back toward the mine.

“Hohoho. The apocalypse――there isn’t much one can carry beyond the apocalypse.”

The old man shook his backpack as if it were heavy.

“Tools, people, and skills.… You can’t just pack everything up and take it with you like what I can do with this old back of mine.”

He turned slowly into a deserted alleyway.

“Until I decide on my next journey and what I’ll bring with me—I’ll leave the treasures of my creativity to you.”

The old man dissolved into the hustle and bustle of the sky, leaving behind a raven’s feather.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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This advance chapter is sponsored by Riellyster-san. Thank you so much for your support. ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧ .

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Flamebone Surtr’s defeat had a secondary effect on the entire monster side. Serpentbone Jor was the one most affected.

――Damn it!

Its massive body writhed in rage. The heat emitted by Flamebone Surtr resisted the seal that froze monsters. Now that that heat was gone, the cold from the seal was closing in on the Great Serpent Jormungand.

――I can’t maintain my body. No! I’ve come this far…!

Leaving a roar in the pale sky, the World Serpent Jormungandr vanished.

◆◆◆

The instant Mjolnir crashed down upon Surtr’s head, a sharp cracking sound rang out. A fracture split across the titan’s molten face, then spread in jagged lines across his blazing body. Heat shimmered from the cracks like escaping spirit of fire.

With a death cry that shook the cavern, the Flame Titan began to crumble.

――Impossible…. impossible!

His massive throat released one final roar, so loud and violent it felt like a wall of air slamming into me. I instinctively shielded my face with my hand covered with gauntlets. I felt like I was being blown away.

――Oooooooohh!

A cry of pure hatred and fury echoed as Surtr’s body shattered. Along with Surtr, who was collapsing, I fell from the height of the attack.

“Sorry, but we can’t let ourselves be burned again!”

From the wall, a white dwarf darted through the air, catching me before I could crash to the ground. Together, we drifted down in a slow, controlled descent.

With the defeat of Flamebone Surtr—the keystone of the battle—the tide shifted instantly.

The monsters that had flooded the dungeon were cut down one after another by the combined might of the dwarves and the gods. Even the colossal serpent outside seemed to shine with a burst of light and vanished altogether.

“Let’s push through!”

What happened after that—to be honest, I can barely remember.

I just knew we fought. Gods, dwarves, and us—all together—we dealt against the remnants of the monster horde. With Surtr gone, no more creatures poured through the gates. The onslaught had ended and only cleanup remained.

I fought on in a daze—summoning the spirits, shielding Safi, driving myself forward even after the golden flame finally flickered out. 

Then finally, I collapsed onto the stone floor. And only then, only as I lay there, staring up at the rift in the ceiling, did I realize it was over. 

The sky beyond had grown pale—morning light is now shining through. It seemed as though time had passed without me noticing.

I tilted my head and looked around.

Felix-san, Mia-san, and Safi were all collapsed in a similar position. None of the gods were left the room. Remnants of magical power sparkled in the air, as if floating in the starry sky.

“…Awake?”

The words came from a small, delicate figure at my side. My vision was still blurry, but as my eyes cracked open, I caught the faint shimmer of thin, translucent wings. One of the white dwarves was watching over me.

――Take them to the surface.

The voice of the Dwarf King echoed faintly, and at once, the white dwarves began carrying us upward. Before long, they set us down on a platform overlooking the main square. Most of the colossal ballistae had been shattered. Only wreckage remained line up across the stone platform.

In the pale light before dawn, countless small figures stood there, gazing at us in silence.

The white dwarves, with slender frames crowned with delicate wings and long, pointed ears, stood there barely chest-high to me. Beside them were the black dwarves. They are of similar height, yet stockier and more solidly built.

All of them are small, but their appearances varied—their clothing, age, the tools they carried. One wore a blacksmith’s apron, another a cloak, another in gleaming armor. 

On the platform where we stood, there were perhaps thirty of them. Yet as I glanced around, I saw more of them. They are watching from balconies, ledges, and stairs carved into the cavern walls. There must have been a hundred of them—or maybe more.

“Kingdom… of dwarves…”

I couldn’t help but murmur.

“…Mm.”

Safi stirred as well, slowly rising from where she had been laid, her gaze turning toward the gathered dwarves.

For a moment, she said nothing—her reaction caught somewhere between disbelief and awe.

A chill morning wind slipped through the rift in the ceiling, stinging my skin, still raw from the heat of battle.

“…E-everyone…”

Safi’s voice faltered again and again, as though the words simply wouldn’t come. Safi, the dark dwarf blacksmith, was surely older than me—yet in this moment, she looked like nothing more than a child.

“…Has it been so long? No, wait—”

One of the dwarves stepped forward, standing directly before Safi. His face was older than hers, far more weathered. If he were human, he might have been around forty.

A trimmed beard framed his jaw, his skin was tanned, and a burn scar ran along his cheek. He wore a blacksmith’s apron, and though small, his limbs were thick and sturdy. He’s another dark dwarf blacksmith, just like Safi.

…Is he her mentor?

Suddenly, the man dropped to his knees with a sharp motion.

“Uuh… Forgive me, Safi-dono!”

Safi scratched her cheek, looking awkward and unsure how to respond.

“I knew they’d accused you… that they’d put you to sleep! But I thought—if it was to protect you, then maybe….. And so, I went along with it…”

H-hold on. He looks older, clearly experienced—yet Safi… outranks him?

“I-it’s fine.”

“But still…!”

One by one, both the white and black dwarves lowered themselves on one knee before Safi. Not with the same intensity as the first one, but their words all carried the same weight.

“We heard everything from His Majesty.”

“We should’ve trusted you. But in the end… after sealing you away, we carved the protective runes with our own hands. We swore we’d guard you till the end.”

“Yeah… you’re incredible.”

“Not only did you preserve our technology, but you even brought gods to our aid…!”

Safi blinked rapidly, her dark eyes darting from one dwarf to the next.

“Eh? Eh…?”

Her lips quivered with confusion, as if she didn’t know how to handle such praise.

Watching her, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Then, Mia-san broke the heavy air with a bold voice.

“…So, what was actually going on here?”

“Ah! Uhm, well…”

Safi’s green hair bounced as she turned toward us. It was clear now that the dwarves hadn’t truly betrayed anyone, but the details were still a mystery.

“The truth is… the dwarven kingdom of Alfheim didn’t betray anyone at all. They only pretended to submit—to lure the enemy into a trap.”

Safi began explaining the path her people had chosen.

As it turned out, the dwarves had never truly turned their backs on the gods or on humankind. They had only feigned allegiance to the enemy, drawing them deep into the palace where the tables could be turned.

Mia-san’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Heh…. No, wait. So, the first floor of the dungeon being buried under all that soil—that was part of the plan back then?”

Even I hadn’t thought that it went that far. My jaw dropped open in surprise as well.

“Amazing….”

“The slope above the mine felt strangely steep, didn’t it? That was because the soil and rock from there were used to seal off the palace entrance.”

Safi puffed out her chest, clearly proud of her homeland’s ingenuity.

“But….”

This daring plan had been set in motion ages ago—a desperate gamble by the dwarves. Yet, the fact that Safi had been locked away alone…. that part had been born from their lingering doubt.

The title of Ten Blacksmiths was granted only to the most exceptional craftsmen. Safi, the sole dark dwarf among them, was mistrusted. They feared that she’ll betray their kind.

Thoughts like,

If her unparalleled skills were to fall into enemy hands….

If the plan to lure the titan were to be exposed….

Both risks were simply too great for them. Thus, they put Safi to sleep.

The fact that Safi had studied even the techniques of the white dwarves, striving to become one of the Ten Blacksmiths, had not been in vain though. For when the monsters truly drew near and all of Alfheim rose to fight, everyone united—this time, to protect Safi.

The gold coin trembled, and the voice of a god echoed forth.

『I see.』

“Loki…?”

『Fufufu. Don’t worry. Gods will be resurrected once their magical powers return. As you see, I’m already fine now. Solana’s existence is in no danger as well. 』

Relief washed over me, and I let out a sigh of relief.

But the god’s voice continued.

『There’s a protective magic at work here. Originally, it was meant to guard against titan….yet it also shielded the dwarves through their long slumber. Some, like Safi, must have awakened under Surtr’s heat. However…』

I could already imagine the rest of what he was about to say.

『They lacked the awakener spell and the horn. Nor did they wear a ring, one that could resist the seal, like Safi. Most of them should have turned back to stone almost at once. But…. I guess a small group awakened early and used the water mirror to call for us. 』

Loki’s explanations could be difficult to follow at times. Perhaps it was because he was the god of mischief, but when he wasn’t being playful, his thoughts always seemed two or three steps ahead of mine.

Then his tone grew thoughtful.

『However, if that’s the case—』

『Rion.』

This time, it was Solana’s voice that came from the coin.

Warmth flooded my chest in an instant. I pulled out the coin case. The goddess engraved upon the gold coin that’s catching the pale light of the whitening sky smiled softly.

“Thank goodness. Are you all right now?”

『Yes. Not quite at full strength but the air here is thick with magical power. We should be able to step outside again. 』

Of course, I had no reason to hesitate. I held my hand over the gold coin.

“Wake up!”

Light flared, and the divine presence sealed within burst forth.

Solana emerged first, her hair and eyes glowing with the brilliance of the sun. Beside her, Thor shook out his crimson hair and stood tall, while Loki in his black robe offered a graceful bow. Uru leapt lightly atop a ruined great ballista, his brown braids swayed as he moved. Lastly, Sigris planted her spear on the ground and bent her waist with a far deeper courtesy than Loki.

“Gods!”

A ripple of awe spread through the gathered dwarves.

“They truly fought alongside us!”

“White dwarves, black dwarves…. and even the gods themselves…”

Amid the rising voices, another one resonated—not through our ears, but directly within our minds.

It was the voice of the Dwarf King.

――Thank you, Safi. And my gratitude as well to the god…. and to the boy who wields the horn.

A faint radiance began to gather in the air. Slowly, a figure took shape, suspended as though floating above the platform. The Dwarf King appeared.

Just like when I met him in the throne room, he looked like a beautiful young boy. His white hair and thin wings were divine. However, perhaps because he was created by magic, his figure is transparent, the scenery behind him was visible through his appearance.

――Thanks to you, I was able to fulfill my final duty.

The dwarves around us spoke in turn.

“…We’ll have to part ways for a while.”

“Yeah. But if the gods will watch over Safi, we can rest easy.”

A chill of unease rippled through me.

Their tone… it sounded far too much like a farewell.

Safi blinked her dark, wide eyes. Startled, she hurriedly asked,

“…Your Majesty, everyone… what do you mean? We finally drove off the monsters and reclaimed the palace after a thousand years. From now on, we can stay together—!”

The Dwarf King chuckled and stroked Safi’s head. But his hand slipped through, never touching Safi.

――Safi. There’s a “seal” that covers the world, right?

Safi looked up in surprise.

With the “Alarm” and the horn, I can get the god out of the gold coin. But even such a god cannot stay awake for long. Now, the dwarves have awakened, freed from their long seal. But just like when we had first found Safi, they were in the form of a stone statue….

“We will eventually turn to stone again.”

“Mm. The cold is already setting in. We won’t be able to resist it for long.”

――Even though the seal has been lifted, my body, which was on the throne, has long since turned back to stone.

――I cannot return to a body that has become stone.

――My consciousness, my very magic, has been transferred entirely into this mechanism’s jewel.

The Dwarf King gave a faint, wistful smile. 

I reached into my pouch and drew out the awakening horn—Gjallarhorn.

“Uh.…”

I regret having taken it so lightly.

A seal covers the whole world. Even an awakened god must eventually return to the gold coin. If a dwarf can no longer withstand the seal, he will turn to stone. Even my Alarm skill isn’t omnipotent.

Safi stepped forward and raised her voice.

“W-wait a moment! Then why am I okay…?”

The red jeweled ring on Safi’s finger sparkled, scattering a sharp glint across the cold air.

“I see…”

A ripple of realization spread through the gathered dwarves and gods alike.

“That ring…” 

Loki murmured. His eyes narrowed with keen interest.

“It is no ordinary trinket. Perhaps it’s a relic. One crafted to shield its bearer from the sealing magic itself.”

Safi looked down at her hand, then back at the Dwarf King, her voice trembling.

“T-then… that means I can stay awake because of this ring? That’s the only reason…?”

The Dwarf King nodded slowly, his form already faint at the edges like mist.

Safi stared at the ring, and the Dwarf King quietly lowered his chin.

――The Ring of Protection.

――A ring of such power could ultimately be made for only one person— for you.

The dwarves exchanged glances, wry smiles tugging at their lips. A mixture of resignation and pride shone in their eyes.

“The craftsmanship is the work of the white dwarves, though the black dwarves lent their hands as well.”

“To keep the gem secure, we first had to refine the alloy properly.”

Another dwarf added.

“…If only we had joined our efforts sooner…”

This ring, brimming with power, had been entrusted to Safi by these people. They wanted to believe in her even though a small doubt lingered that she might betray them. Yet beneath it all was the truth—their desire to protect her, their genuine intent to keep her safe.

Conflicted feelings. As Loki had once said, even the gods and dwarves were a little complicated.

The dwarves gathered around Safi, who stood frozen in disbelief. One by one, they shook her hand, patted her shoulder, offered words of encouragement. The embraces seemed reserved for those closest to her.

I watched the scene alongside Mia-san, Felix-san, and the gods. My chest tightened painfully, and I realized I was gripping the armor around my torso. There had barely been enough time to say proper goodbyes to so many.

Soon, the morning sun streamed in through the rift in the ceiling. Normally, I would have cherished this hour—the sun rising to banish the night and begin a new day. But now, it only served as a cruel reminder: time is running out.

“Mm…”

The dwarves began to slump, one by one.

“…It’s time, isn’t it?”

Gradually, their arms and legs turned to stone.

Safi pressed her lips together, tears pooling in her eyes, yet she continued to look forward. Even the small smile of the Dwarf King began to fade.

――Farewell, master blacksmith of the black dwarves. You’ll be parting ways with me forever, but with the others, it will only be temporary.

But that won’t change anything for Safi. She’ll be left behind again.

“.…Isn’t there any other way?”

I thought deeply.

Safi had struggled so much to get here, and now she’s finally meeting her companions. Even after using the Alarm, for them to part ways now felt unbearably sad.

“Rion”

Solana touched my hand.

“You think so?”

I nodded my head.

The goddess’s aura was different from before. Her voice was stern, and the dwarves who were turning to stone, Safi, and the Dwarf King all looked at Solana.

“Then… I want you to rely on me. You’re my believer, and we’ve made a vow to be the ‘kindest’ and ‘strongest’.”

The goddess closed her eyes tightly. She gripped my arm so tightly that it seemed like it would leave a mark.

“Even in the battle with Surtr just now… I couldn’t truly protect you—”

Golden light began to wreathe Solana’s body.

“And even before that, in that frozen forge… In front of the dwarves turned to stone, I could not be the strength you needed…!”

I recognized that light immediately. It was the same radiance that had poured from Solana when she was gravely wounded by Surtr’s flaming sword. Back then, that light had entered me, strengthening my protection.

“I want to be a god worthy of you as you grow. So I…!”

Solana closed her eyes, so tightly it seemed almost painful.

“That’s why, me too!”

It wasn’t only me who regretted having no power. Even Solana felt that frustration. And in that moment, I cherished her—our goddess—far more deeply than I ever had before.

“Understood, Solana.”

She was trying to answer me, and just that intention warmed my chest, compelling me to speak my wish aloud.

“Solana! A mere Alarm won’t be enough against the seal. So… please, lend me your power…!”

I had defeated Surtr. But that alone… defeating him with sheer strength wasn’t enough. I had come here to save my comrade, to save Safi.

A golden light shone within both Solana’s chest and my own. It was the same light that had appeared when I fought Skoll in the Royal Capital and received the Sword of the Daughter of the Sun.

“Hoh… the bond between Rion and Solana… has grown, hasn’t it?”

Thor stroked his jaw as he spoke.

“…Is it just me, or has Solana’s bond grown faster?”

“Right?”

“It’s heartwarming.”

While Uru, Loki, and Sigris exchanged words among themselves, the goddess seemed to flush a deep red.

“Mm… ugh… this feels… weird.”

Solana murmured. She cleared her throat, still glowing as she did so.

Thor folded his arms and chuckled.

“Haha! Solana is the youngest, and she does not yet wield the power of a motherly god. But… that only means she can grow faster.”

Those big eyes looked down at me, as if to say: Rion, join her.

The awakening horn, the Gjallarhorn, that I had taken out of my pouch was glowing faintly.

“Rion?”

I smiled at Safi, who looked anxious.

“Wait for me.”

I blew air into the horn. Let’s sound the horn of victory at dawn in Alvis. Together with this morning sun!

Skill, 『Sun’s Divine Protection』was used. ————————————————————— 【Sun’s Awakening Light】 ……Use the power of the sun to make the seal permanently removed.

“Hoh? This is…”

Loki’s eyes widened.

“Interesting! A combination of 【Alarm】 and 【Sun’s Divine Protection】huh. An ability based on my 【Duplicity】skill! The target might be limited, but still… this is remarkable!”

Sunlight streamed in through the rift in the ceiling, filling the entire hall. The light enveloped each dwarf, restoring their bodies that had begun turning to stone.

Each of them stared in awe as flakes of stone fell away from their hands.

“Rion.”

Safi looked at me, tears welling in her eyes.

Cheers erupted all around. This wasn’t a reunion shadowed by the expectation of parting, like before. This was truly, genuinely, a reunion.

Safi was caught up in the throng of crying and laughing of the dwarves. As they patted her on the shoulders and stroked her head, the dwarf blacksmith also began to cry loudly.

A smile tugged at Mia-san’s lips. She wiped her eyes and then she gave a hearty slap to Felix-san’s back who stood beside her.

The light of the skill “Alarm” spread. Golden magic flowed throughout the mine. Even the dwarves hidden deep underground would awaken before long for sure.

“—I never imagined you’d be awakening not gods, but the entire kingdom of dwarves.”

Felix-san smiled at me as he patted my back.

“…Rutger-san would be so proud if he could see you now.”

The morning wind swept through the vast chamber. Seeing the cheers of the dwarves who had survived a thousand years, and the smile of Safi, the dwarf blacksmith, I felt a warmth of happiness rise within me.

Lu… Mom...

Maybe… I’ve become a somewhat worthy adventurer.

I’ll definitely tell my family about this adventure when I get home!

“Rion.”

“Un…!”

Solana and I nodded to each other.

“The gods’ awakener… your first job was a success.”

We continued to watch the demigod dwarves that come back to life.

In the dungeon, now free of monsters, the voices of joyful reunions echoed continuously.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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This advance chapter is sponsored by Riellyster-san. Thank you so much for your support. ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧ .

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Perhaps it was because I had just exchanged sword techniques with Flamebone Surtr, but I found myself remembering my training with my father.

Back in the early days—the very first time I ever held a sword.

This sharp, cold hunk of metal had felt terrifying to me. I couldn’t even imagine it being pointed at me in a dungeon. Father could face blades every single day without fear and I thought it was beyond amazing—I felt more than just respectful.

“Father… aren’t you afraid of fighting monsters?”

In my memory, Father patted my head. I was only about ten at the time, so his palm completely covered my head.

“I’m afraid of course.”

“Then why do you go out to fight?”

Even as a child, I understood that being an adventurer was dangerous work.

Father looked up, a little troubled, and smiled.

“Everyone’s afraid. All of us. The old man across the street, the miller next door, and me, too. Everyone’s scared of monsters.”

“Then….”

“Wrong. It’s all because of that.”

Father looked straight into my eyes.

“If everyone’s afraid, then someone has to do it. That’s why I choose to be that someone.”

Because he understood fear, he could feel how frightened everyone else was too. And yet, he would force that fear down and keep moving forward.

I remembered now—that was the kind of man my father was.

Even in the “Blood-Red Sunset”, during that final battle when he challenged Ymir, perhaps it was that same will that carried him forward.

“Of course, there are a few people who aren’t afraid from the start. But those who feel fear, yet still steady their trembling and step into battle is something more. That’s what we call courage, don’t you think?”

It’s precisely because I’m scared that I step forward. Perhaps stepping forward despite the fear is truly what we call “courage.”

As a child, that was what I believed.

It was around that time I began my training with Father.

“A sword exists for that very reason. Every part of a weapon is designed with ways to defend and fight.”

The guard to catch the enemy’s blade. The sharp tip for thrusting. The pommel to balance its weight—and sometimes deliver a strike.

“Even a sword has a hidden hammer. Find it. Practice and knowledge—someday, they’ll be what saves you—”

“Rion.”

Father called out to me. His voice gradually became more and more shaky, bringing me back to reality.

I felt like I’d been tapped firmly on the shoulder.

◆◆◆

“Rion!”

As he called out to me, I found myself collapsed against the wall. In front of me was Solana.

My heart nearly stopped at her appearance.

“S-Solana….?”

The goddess had lost everything from her right shoulder down to her left hip. Her body had shrunk so much, and from that severed line, golden light leaked out.

Solana smiled, her face pale white.

“Thank goodness. Don’t worry—you’re safe.”

“S-Solana, you’re…”

“I’m fine. Gods don’t possess physical bodies. I just wanted to protect you first.”

She smiled as she said it.

There was no way such a wound wasn’t painful. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

From far away came the growl of Flamebone Surtr and the howls of monsters. Both were terrifying—but what hurt more was seeing Solana so gravely injured.

“Don’t make that face. I told you from the very beginning, didn’t I? I want to be a god who stands by your side.”

And then, she added softly,

“I’m glad I was able to protect you. But now…. I need to rest for a while.”

With those final words, Solana burst into light. The golden flames surrounding her seemed to flare brighter for an instant—as if she had used the very last of her strength to keep her divine blessing alive.

From the short sword I clutched tightly in my hand, a gold coin flaked off.

Clink. Even now, the sound was cool and clear.

Solana, who had become a sword of light, must have served as our shield as well. That’s why she had been hurt so badly.

“Uu…”

Fear and helplessness churned together inside me. My limbs wanted to give out, but the heat burning deep in my chest lashed at them like a command.

Stand!

Stand up and take your stance!

“Are you all right?”

A shadow fell across me—it was the god, Loki. Behind him, Mia-san, Felix-san, and even Safi came rushing over. All of them looked badly wounded. Mia-san clutched her left arm, while Felix-san’s right arm was seared with a terrible burn.

If Solana hadn’t thrown herself in front of us to protect us—

The mere thought sent a chill crawling down my spine.

I wanted to use my healing abilities, but the medicine god, Sigris, was still busy up above, protecting the dwarves. Besides… I had the feeling I should conserve my mana for now.

With the chain still clenched between her teeth, Mia-san asked,

“Rion, can you still fight?”

“Y-Yes…!”

No room for hesitation. It was time to start over.

That towering figure, nearly twenty meters tall—sways in the heat haze ahead. We have to close the distance again, from the very start. The monsters were back as well. Surtr’s flames had melted the frost of the seal, calling monsters to this floor like moths to a torch.

And beyond them loomed the true threat—Surtr’s weapon, the sword of certain death.

“That blade… it is the weapon of the Flamebone Surtr. Some call it the Bane of Branches—others, the fabled Laevateinn.”

Loki folded his arms, his eyes narrowing to slits.

This was the titan who had once tried to burn the world to ash. If we fell here, the dwarves would be annihilated. The fire would spread, first to Alvis, and then to the Royal Capital itself.

I remembered the vision Solana had once shown me—the myth of fire swallowing everything. The fear of seeing Lu, of seeing Mother, engulfed by those flames… That no longer felt like a distant nightmare. It was drawing closer.

——Ooooohh!!

Surtr roared.

The horde of monsters surged forward in a frenzy, fangs and claws glinting in the infernal light.

Then—thrum!

A volley of enchanted bolts and arrows thundered down from the colossal ballistae. In an instant, the front lines of the horde were reduced to ash, clearing a narrow path toward the flame titan.

Stone sentinels—guard golems—charged into the remaining monsters, locking them in brutal combat, straining to hold the corridor open for us.

“This….”

An unfamiliar voice echoed in my head—the words of the Dwarf King.

—We dwarves shall pour all our magic and mechanisms into this battle as well!

Was he watching us from somewhere?

Along the wall, a crimson jewel glimmered faintly. From above, ten more humanoid figures descended—additional guard golems joining the fray.

—You’ve found a weakness, haven’t you?

I lowered my chin in a firm nod.

Our target was the weak point we had discovered—the Golem cores embedded in Surtr’s knees. The flame titan’s lower legs were prosthetics of stone and earth. Once we shatter the cores, he would no longer be able to stand.

My resolve solidified. It was no longer simply “I mustn’t lose.” Now it had become, “I want all of us to win—together.”

“Here I go! Cover me!”

At my shout, Mia-san and Felix-san responded in perfect unison.

“Got it!”

“All right!”

I dashed forward. The distance was only fifty meters. With the Blessing of the Sun—the Golden Flame—I could have covered it in an instant if there weren’t monsters swarming the path.

The opening that the dwarves had blasted open was already filling up with creatures, their numbers threatening to close it off completely.

Chain axe, magic, and the guard golems fought to hold the passage for even a moment longer. A blast of fire from Garmr streaked past me from the side, just as Surtr raised his blazing sword high.

“—!”

I barely managed to dodge. The wave of heat alone must have seared all the way to the opposite wall. I could only hope the others had escaped the swing as well.

—But that wasn’t all!

“Rion! Dodge!”

Mia-san’s scream proved all too true.

After the downward strike, the blade swept sideways, a great scything arc meant to reap me where I had dodged. Flames carved across the floor in a wide, fanning sweep.

“Wake up!”

Safi’s inscription of “jinrad” flared to life. A sylph burst forth, whipping up a gust of tailwind behind me. I dashed forward, leaping onto a nearby golem as if it were a stepping stone, then vaulted high to clear the sweeping blaze.

Only thirty meters left!

I sprinted through the open space, the floor beneath me glowing hot—hot enough to scorch my boots if I faltered for even a moment.

“GROOOOAAAH!”

Two massive figures loomed before me, each nearly eight meters tall—Flame Giants. They clasped their hands together, ready to crush me like an insect. I stepped aside, first left, then right, but pain flared sharply from my wounds. I gritted my teeth and endured it.

The goddess had borne far worse—surely I could as well.

Only ten more meters!

I dove through a gap in the magical wall.

“One down!”

As we passed each other, my short sword slashed across the golem core in its knee.

“Second one—down!”

Flamebone Surtr staggered, the titan reeling backward, eyes wide with shock. Perhaps the speed I’d gained from the goddess, and the spirit exceeded even its imagination.

Its massive head dipped low, exposing its weak point. I called upon the blessing of the God of Thunder, aiming for the vital spot—Surtr’s head itself.

——You wretch!

Surtr drove its blazing sword deep into the ground. Right beneath me—its target. I had forgotten the risk.

He was planning to lure me in, pull me close enough that I couldn’t escape, and then get me caught up in the explosion of the Flame Sword, Laevateinn.

Felix-san shouted, casting a spell.

“Rion! Over here!”

My body moved before my mind did. I kicked off the ground, sprinting—not toward Surtr now, but away from it.

Run, run, run!

Twenty meters away, my companions waited. The guard golems had gathered to form a makeshift wall. A chain suddenly whipped out from behind it with a metallic clatter.

Instinctively, I grabbed hold of it. Mia-san gave a hard yank, pulling me behind the wall to safety.

“Ice Wall—!”

Felix-san chanted, reinforcing the wall of the guard golems with a layer of frost magic. Safi swung her hammer, striking the constructs and blessing them with “Blessing”, bolstering their strength further. Loki’s divine power joined in, weaving additional protection.

Then, the Dwarf King’s voice rang in my head:

—I shall channel the jewel’s protective magic as well…!

And then—like the world’s very end—the second blast of cataclysmic flame erupted.

◆◆◆

Thor, the God of Thunder, and Jormungandr, the World Serpent, had exchanged countless blows, their battle climbing through one peak after another of ferocity.

Yet the tide was one-sided.

Fangs. Venom. A tail that lashed like a living pillar. Thor parried each strike with Mjolnir, yet his body bore the price—wounds piling one upon another.

Dawn now had begun to pale the sky. The God of Thunder’s form was smeared with blood and mud, while the Serpent’s massive body gleamed with a dark, ominous sheen—two figures, stark in their contrast.

——How delightful…

The World Serpent’s golden eyes curved like crescent moons as a low, throaty hum rolled from its throat. Raising its scythe-like head, it leveled its gaze with the floating God of Thunder.

——You’re shielding the city… the mines… making sure I don’t destroy them. It makes your movements so very easy to read.

All around them, trees lay toppled, the earth scarred and torn. It was painfully clear where the two had clashed. Had anyone looked down from above, they would have seen how the trail of devastation crept steadily farther and farther from Alvis—away from the city, away from the mines.

If the serpent were to leap into the streets, countless lives would be lost. That was why Thor, even as his wounds multiplied, threw his body into the fray, forcing the monster back, cutting off its path.

——And yet… you still haven’t unleashed your full strength, have you?

The serpent laughed, its cavernous maw flashing crimson.

——Is it because of the seal? Or… are you waiting for something?

Thor’s face remained unreadable. From the thunderclouds gathered on his back came a fierce wind, whipping his red hair in wild strands.

Behind him, from a fissure carved into the mountainside, fire suddenly erupted. It was Surtr’s fire.

Thor’s eyes widened as he spun around. Behind him, the serpent gaped its monstrous jaws, a hideous laugh echoing through the night sky.

——A pity, really, that the boy with the horn was burned to death… But in this situation, he’d only have gotten in the way sooner or later, don’t you think?

From the fissure in the mountain, flames erupted like the blast of a volcano. Thor slowly shook his head.

“Hmph!”

He raised his broad palm toward the serpent, and lightning surged from the thunderclouds gathered upon his back. The roar of countless bolts, braided together into a single blinding torrent, shook the very air. Most of the strikes crashed into the ground, throwing up a wall of dust that veiled the serpent’s gaze.

When the haze cleared, Jormungandr fell silent. The distance between them had widened. Thor had retreated—pulled back, deliberately.

——Now, of all times… you are retreating?

The World Serpent knew well the god who stood before her. The war god who had fought her countless times—never once had he lowered his head, never once had he yielded ground. Yet now, battered and torn from shielding the mountain and the city, he drew back toward the mines… with pride blazing in his eyes.

“I told you, didn’t I?!”

Thor’s booming laughter rolled across the pale dawn sky—mirthful, defiant, exhilarating. Even as he stepped back, he raised his mighty hammer high.

“Never underestimate humans! No matter how small their bodies, no matter how many times they fall—”

He jabbed his left thumb hard against his chest.

“—here beats a will larger than any of us!”

From Thor’s chest, a crimson light began to shine.

◆◆◆

The vast chamber had fallen silent.

Darkness loomed—perhaps because the heat had shattered the magic lamps. In the dim glow, the towering form of Flamebone Surtr floated, wreathed in fire.

——How come?

His voice echoed through the scorched air.

——Why are you not reduced to ash?

I stepped out from behind the charred remains of the guard golems. In the end, Surtr had sacrificed both knees to lure me into striking distance. Yet even his ultimate blaze had failed to consume us.

I coughed, my throat burning. The heat was so intense, it was a wonder I could still draw breath. There were probably countless reasons why we’d survived.

Firstly, because Solana had clashed with his flaming sword, draining its force. Because the dwarven guard golems had stood as a wall for us. Because Loki and the Dwarf King had poured their magic into shielding us, and Felix-san and Mia-san had helped me escape at the last possible moment.

And perhaps—just perhaps—the fireproof cloak I’d saved for this moment had done its job. The hem was curled and scorched, but it had held on, though barely.

——Our flames… the flames strong enough to burn the world to ash… and yet it cannot burn a tiny human like you?

I glared up at that massive face. The tears gathering in my eyes weren’t only from the heat.

“No! It’s because everyone helped me! The gods, the dwarves, Mia-san, Felix-san. Everyone protected me! That’s why—!”

The terror of fighting with everything I had finally caught up to me. But I shouted at the mythic titan before me.

“I’m not alone!”

—That’s why I won’t lose!

——Oooooooh!

Surtr’s flames flared again, heat roaring through the cavern.

At that moment, the dungeon shook. From the rift in the ceiling, a crimson light poured down—

The very same glow that now burned within my chest.

“Rion!”

Thor hurled his massive golden hammer toward me. It blazed above my head, then shattered into light. Power rained down on me. The divine, overwhelming might of the God of Thunder himself.

——I walked away from my battle with the World Serpent for this. Now show them, hero.

With a deafening crash, the serpent’s body slammed into the rift from the other side.

——Surtr! Be careful!

Kneeling, the Flamebone Titan glared down at me, his eyes seething with rage.

The serpent’s voice echoed through the cavern.

——Thor did not retreat to distract me! The war god’s true aim… was this boy all along!

——To think he would actually entrust Surtr’s defeat… to a mere human!

At this moment, it struck me. —Our enemy had never even imagined I could stand against Surtr. That arrogance, that miscalculation, had brought us to this moment.

I stepped forward, Thor’s divine power flooding through me, as the voice of the god resounded in my head.

Skill, 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』was used. Achievement has been unlocked. ———————————————— A new ability has been granted.

Skills are born from the bond between mortals and gods. If that’s indeed the case… then deepening my connection with Thor must have awakened this new power. Just like the sword of the daughter of the sun had been born because of my bond with Solana back in the Royal Capital.

I stand before the colossal monster, Flamebone Surtr. Just as Thor, the god of war, once faced off against many titans, and beings greater than himself.

I now face this towering foe with the same resolve. That same will strengthened the bond between us. The red light burning in my chest burns hotter—even hotter than Surtr’s infernal flames.

Skill, 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』 ————————————————————— 【Will of the God of War】 ……When facing a foe far greater than oneself, the power of each strike is amplified.

With the 【Golden Flame】 from the Sun Goddess’ blessing and the【Will of the God of War 】from the God of Thunder’s blessing burning within me at once, I took a step forward.

A single leap is all it takes to rise before Surtr’s massive form.

“Oooooh!”

Surtr roars, spreading a barrier of magic before him.

Snap! A tiny, almost anticlimactic sound—like fingers clicking—cuts through the heat.

It came from the side. Both Surtr and I turned to look there.

—Floating in midair was Loki.

“You didn’t think you could forget about Loki, did you?”

Surtr’s eyes went wide. His enormous head snapped toward the figure floating beside his massive shoulder—a black-robed sorcerer, the god of mischief himself.

“In times of peace, we even learned magic from you titans.”

Loki said with a thin smile.

“I know your technology. I know how it works.”

Surtr, enraged, swept his massive hand toward him. However, Loki’s body sheared away. Chunks of darkness peeling off as though he were unraveling.

“Well, well… for me to play the sacrificial fool. Not my usual style, but…”

With his form fading, Loki turned his eyes toward me and grinned,

“Please… No—I entrust this to you, Rion.”

The magic barrier that had begun to form shattered like mist. No fortress remained. No monstrous guardian stood to shield the battlefield’s heart—Surtr himself.

I felt the tailwind of Sylph’s breeze at my back, driving me forward through the air in a straight line. The crimson light burning in my chest grew brighter, hotter with every passing heartbeat.

With Solana, the image in my mind had been a sword. But now, what I see is a hammer.

Surtr’s burning face loomed closer, the heat so fierce it stung my nose, threatened to sear my eyes right out of their sockets.

Magic power poured around me like rain, on the verge of awakening into something greater—no, it had to awaken. Everyone had given me this chance. I couldn’t waste it.

But—

『…Your compatibility… may not be enough.』

Thor’s voice, heavy with regret, echoed in my mind.

“No way…!”

The divine power he had granted me refused to take shape in my hands. It poured down upon me, only to scatter like mist the moment I tried to grasp it.

Then Loki’s voice followed, sly and unhurried.

『Perhaps… it’s because your bond with Solana is truly special. Your aptitude for manipulating magic… is only so-so, after all.』

Maybe I simply lacked the talent to seize this chance. Well, of course I did. I was born with a useless skill, a dropout from the start, not a hero like my father.

And now—of all times—my own weakness was dragging me down…!

Thor’s voice thundered in my mind.

『Rion—imagine it anyway! My strength—my hammer!』

“I–imagine it…?”

Magic was imagination—the power to give shape to one’s will. Loki had once taught me that. So I focused, pouring everything I had into that single thought. What rose in my mind was a memory—training with my father.

I could almost feel his large hands guiding mine, showing me how to do it. With that image burning bright, I shifted my grip on the short sword. I grasped the blade itself. Trusting the silver gauntlet to shield my fingers, I turned the weapon around so the guard pointed upward.

A cross-shaped short sword flipped this way became the shape of a hammer. A stance meant for killing strikes—a technique normally used with longswords to bludgeon the enemy with the guard.

With a hammer now clenched in my hands—even if only in imagination—I could feel it. I could believe I was truly holding Thor’s great hammer.

The silver gauntlet my little sister had given me felt reassuring. It didn’t just protect my fingers. It was as if Lu herself was there—her small hands covering mine, whispering: “Oniichan, you can do this.”

——Burn… I will burn you to ash!

Surtr’s colossal face loomed right before me.

But I refused to give in.

What I lacked in magical talent, I would make up for with the strength of my memories—my family’s bond. My throat strained to its limit as I shouted the name of the weapon I had borrowed from the God of Thunder himself.

“Mjolnir!”

Skill, 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』was activated. Mjolnir –the legendary war hammer, granted by the God of Thunder.

The reversed blue crystal short swrod erupted with lightning, blazing brighter and brighter until a massive hammer took form around it.

With a deafening shout, I swung Mjolnir down upon the doomsday titan.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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From the rift carved into the mountainside, Thor, god of thunder, burst out into the night sky.

His gaze fell downward—where the writhing form of a colossal serpent sprawled.

Behind the mountain stretched a vast forest, with a river winding along the ridge line. Trees snapped and the ground shuddered as the creature dragged its immense body forward, water spray and dust erupting in its aftermath.

Slowly, the serpent raised its head, towering high—its height alone rivaling that of a giant-class monster. Counting the length that slithered along the ground, it was surely even larger than Flamebone Surtr.

Hovering above, Thor stroked his chin, the eyes of a war god measuring the serpent’s size.

“Fifty meters, if it stretched straight?  No—closer to a hundred…?”

He snorted. It’s pointless. He had realized there was no meaning in trying to measure it.

“You always did grow stronger with magical power, didn’t you…?”

The seal that once bound the world must have kept that trait suppressed.

Like where Thor, god of thunder, turned his magical power into lightning—

Sigris, the god of medicine, transmuted it into healing—

And Solana, the goddess of the sun, transformed it into light—

This creature poured it all into sheer size.

Resting Mjolnir across his shoulder, Thor gazed down upon the serpent.

“It’s been a long time, World Serpent Jormungandr.”

From the shadowed forest below, golden eyes glared up at him. Thunderclouds gathered around Thor, the hammer’s surface came alive with crackling blue arcs.

——Yes… far too long.

The World Serpent purred. Its voice echoed heavily throughout the area, like an earthquake. Even from the distant city of Alvis came cries of terror—they had seen the monster’s emergence.

Thor’s mouth tightened.

(Just how did Odin intend to end this?)

Thor questioned in his mind.

——Before the Seal, I never did get to finish our battle.

“…Yeah”

The rising gale whipped through Thor’s crimson hair. Before the seal had blanketed the world, Thor and Jormungandr had clashed many times.

“By now we’re surely tired of each other’s faces. Or does a thousand years apart make the sight feel fresh again?”

Jormungandr shook its vast body in laughter. The eerie rumble stirred the midnight forest, and with a great rush of wings, birds scattered far into the distance.

——Hey, Thor… you may be fine, but what of the mortals in the dungeon?

The serpent’s crimson tongue flickered, taunting him.

——While they face Flamebone Surtr—without you, their strongest god—can they truly endure?

Thor kept an expressionless face . As a god of war, he is well aware of his opponent’s tactics.

The World Serpent had revealed itself only to feign interest in the city, baiting a lone god strong enough to oppose it into stepping outside—so that the battle within the dungeon might still tilt in their favor.

In other words, it was a diversion.

And then, once outside, it tried to distract him by making him worry about what is happening inside.

——Mortals are small, weak… and greedy, like serpents themselves.

“Hahaha!”

The thunder god’s laughter split the serpent’s ploy apart.

“I used to think the same. Truly, seeing it thrown in my face by an enemy is enough to make me loathe the thought.”

Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir and leveled it toward the massive serpent.

“Small? Weak? They may look like it—but don’t underestimate them.”

Thor’s red hair swayed in the storm. The God of War glared at the serpent with wide eyes and raised Mjolnir.

“That boy—he may grow into something far beyond what you imagine.”

(Or rather… he’s already on the midst of it.)

Thor added the thought under his breath.

“Answer me, hero…”

Jormungandr coiled its massive body, its tail snapping like a whip. Waiting for it was the hammer wreathed in thunder.

“I’ve trusted them to hold against Surtr. And, we’ve learned something —we learned to fight side by side.”

◆◆◆

Flamebone Surtr rose to its full height. The golems behind him fell from the impact, and we saw them get crushed by the giant’s foot.

Even from here, the heat seared at our skin—I thought my nose might burn away. Running forward, we all pulled the hoods of our fireproof cloaks lower.

When I looked up, the titan towered nearly twenty meters, like a colossal tree reaching to the sky.

“…The more I look, the more absurd it seems.”

Felix-san muttered, and I couldn’t disagree.

We had forced our way through the hordes of monsters, pressing closer to Surtr than I’d thought possible. But he is still too big.…

“Wake up!”

I called upon Sylph, the wind spirit, and then I hurled wind blades at Surtr. However, all they managed was to scratch the surface of its pillar-like leg.

Even Mia-san’s chainaxe clanged uselessly off the titan’s hide.

“Felix-san, what about your spells!?”

“I am casting them but their effect is weak.”

Right now, the only ones managing to land real attacks on Surtr were the dwarves. From the platforms circling the chamber, ballistae and spell-cannons kept unleashing volley after volley. Yet even their bombardment broke again and again upon the titan’s shimmering barrier.

We kept running in a wide arc, careful not to interfere with the dwarves’ assault.

If Surtr was the “fortress,” then the dwarves were the siege force with their many engines and device. That made us the raiding party, circling and waiting for the opening.

——Hooooo!

Surtr roared. The entire dungeon shook, and the sound made my eardrums feel like they might burst.

“W–what!?”

Safi staggered, only to be caught in Loki’s arms.

“…Hmm.”

The god narrowed his eyes.

“Looks like it’s Surtr’s turn to go on the offensive.”

The flame titan lifted one of his colossal leg high.

——OOOOOH!

It was only a single stomp. And yet, that alone sent a furnace wind surging through the chamber.

I hastily awakened Salamander, and the gods Loki and Solana wrapped their protection around me. Even so, the raging storm of heat blasted away the Garmrs and wave after wave of golems.

The merciless destruction sent chills down my spine.

“H-he’s striking his allies too…?”

“If they mattered to him, he wouldn’t let people mine ore straight out of his body in the first place!”

Mia-san was right.

Whether we liked it or not, this proved what we were up against was no person, but a monster.

Surtr’s crimson eyes blazed. The titan raised his fist high, then brought it down upon one of the platforms. A colossal ballista shattered into fragments, its debris falling alongside the dwarves who had manned it. Even Sigris and Uru, who guarded the platforms, couldn’t shield them all.

Surtr’s booming laughter echoed.

——Born of fire, return to fire!

The collapsing platform seemed to fall in agonizing slow motion.

Safi screamed.

——OOOOOH…

Surtr rumbled low in his throat, his enormous face twisting into a grin. When his jaws parted, I glimpsed jagged fangs, glowing red-black like molten iron. Even now, terror threatened to make me shake.

I slapped my own cheek.

Get it together. Don’t look away.

If I falter here, then surely, not just me, but my companions, the dwarves, Lu, and even Mother would all be swallowed by fire.

“Please… Uru’s blessing—!”

Calling on the Blessing of the Hunter God, I stretched my senses with magical detection.

“…T-there has to be some weakness…!”

That’s when I noticed something strange. At first, I thought it was only the heat and tears warping my vision. But no—there, near Surtr’s knee, gleamed a red light. A light eerily similar to a golem’s core. But before he had stood up, I was sure nothing like that had been there.

“S–Safi…”

Still held in Loki’s arms, Safi wiped her tears away.

“What is it?”

“There’s a magical reaction in Surtr’s knee. It looks almost exactly like a golem core…”

Her eyes widened—then blinked, as though some forgotten memory had just stirred.

“Come to think of it… when I arrived here, there was a golem master. I couldn’t figure out why he was there, but now…?”

Something clicked in my mind as well. That Incarnation of Rage we had fought earlier.

If one could forge a giant golem, then maybe—just maybe—a titan’s very body parts could be built the same way…?

“Rion, don’t stop running! Treat it like any other giant-type monster!”

The voice of a senior adventurer snapped me back to my senses.

“R–right!”

I forced my legs to move again.

Surtr hurled a fireball. Towering pillars of flame roared up around us, scattering fleeing figures in every direction. Flying rubble tore a gash across my cheek. Without the dwarves’ covering fire, even attacks like this would have crushed us in relentless succession.

Through the gaps between the explosions, we caught glimpses of him—

“…Around the legs, the flames seem weaker?”

Mia-san’s words earned a quick nod from me.

“Yes. There, it almost looks like it’s made of soil and stone…”

“Ah!”

Safi suddenly cried out.

“…The legs—it matches that spot. At the very beginning, that giant’s feet were bound in sealing ice. And then… one leg still had an ancient ballista bolt lodged in it, from ages ago…”

Safi pressed a hand to her lips as she murmured.

“Could it be… they reinforced the injured leg with golem technology?”

Loki narrowed his eyes, agreeing. Even in a moment like this, he raised a finger as if lecturing.

“Mmm, I see. The grievous wounds he suffered from the dwarves before the sealing never healed. So, with his flesh missing, they patched him up with soil and stone using golem technology.”

Odin’s seal had been dragging Surtr’s legs down all along. A wound sustained a thousand years ago, kept under the seal—perhaps not even a monster’s regeneration could mend it.

“Uh—let me sort this out…”

The truth lined up in my mind.

A golem core was reinforcing Surtr’s crippled leg with stone and earth. Both legs had been pierced by the dwarves’ great ballista bolts—this was, in effect, a kind of prosthetic limb. That was why, once he stood upright, the Blessing of the Hunt God had reacted.

And Safi had seen the golem engineer. If it was for emergency measures like this, it all made sense.

“We… we might’ve found his weak point!”

Circling behind Surtr, I fixed my eyes on the golem cores.

Just as I thought—both his knees glowed with a crimson light. If we destroyed them, even that colossus would surely falter. Standing on two legs was the same weakness for giants as it was for us.

That was when Mia-san suddenly pointed straight upward, her face gone pale.

“Y—you’ve got to be kidding me!”

Surtr’s fist was already raised. The ground shook under his forward step. Loki and Felix-san hurled spells to deflect the blow, but stopping it outright was impossible.

The fist came down.

The floor bent like liquid under the impact, launching all of us into the air. The goddess stepped forward, spreading her arms to shield us. Her golden hair streamed straight back in the scorching gale.

“H-here it comes, Rion! The magic shockwave—!”

Together with Solana, we were blasted high into the air.

“Wah—!”

We must’ve been launched a good ten meters up.

Yet we didn’t crash into the walls or floor. The fall was strangely gentle. That was when I saw them—pale dwarves with delicate, feather like wings. White dwarves, catching us in their arms, softening our descent. One by one, they lowered us gently back to the ground.

“Th-thank you…!”

I called out in gratitude, but the white dwarves only gave a small nod before gliding back to the platforms.

I turned again toward the flame giant.

Surtr had dropped to one knee, coiling himself like a spring, gathering strength.

My chest pounded. His movements had stilled—and that made it feel like the perfect chance. His knees, his weakness, were pressed firmly against the ground, hardly shifting at all.

My heart raced like a drum.

Was this a chance—or a trap?

“Solana!”

I chose to gamble.

The blast had hurled us far away, leaving thirty meters between us. At that range, only one option had the power we needed.

Solana’s golden eyes flared as she nodded.

“I understand!”

Skill, 『Sun’s Divine Protection』was used. Sword of the daughter of the Sun has been created. ―――――――――――――――――――― 【Sword of the Daughter of the Sun】 ……The daughter of the Sun imbues herself into the weapon.

The goddess sank into the blue crystal short sword in my hand. The gold coin leapt from my pouch, fusing with the blade. The light-forged sword—the same that once felled Wolfbone Skoll —blazed to life, its radiance surging upward until it nearly brushed the cavern’s ceiling.

――Oooohhh!

Surtr roared.

Even as he knelt, Surtr pressed his massive palms together. Between them, fire swelled—gathering and thickening until it surged outward into form. It turned into a blade.

A sword of flame.

“—!”

That sword of flame caught the Sword of the Daughter of the Sun head-on.

The clash rang like the tolling of giant bells.

In the vast chamber, golden sparks and red-black embers scattered in showers so blinding they stabbed at my eyes. Goddess and giant, light and flame—locked in equal measure. Their magic was evenly matched.

What tipped the balance was skill.

Still bracing against the divine blade, Surtr rose slowly to his full towering height. His burning weapon slid upward against mine, then he twisted it in a swift, fluid arc. It was a technique called “Maki otoshi,” in which one releases his sword from the sword lock and launches a counterattack.

My opponent was so huge that it was foolish to compare to him. After all, Surtr’s strength and technique could not be pushed back!

——Oooohhh!

With a roar, he wrenched the blades apart.

——Burn, and turn to ash!

From a sweeping stance, Surtr’s flaming sword scythed across, aimed to cut us all down.

I raised the Sword of the Daughter of the Sun as a shield, bracing to protect the others.

“Rion!”

“Solana—protect everyone!”

I couldn’t hold my ground. My feet lost contact with the ground, and in that instant the heatwave struck me like a hammer.

I was blown away.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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The moment we stepped out of the temple, I used my skill, Sun’s Divine Protection, upon Mia-san and Felix-san. Golden flames wrapped around them so we could chase after Safi faster.

Entering the dungeon from the far side of the mountain, the Horn of Awakening, Gjallarhorn, lit up at once. No doubt it was the dwarves’ way of guiding us, pointing towards where our true destination lay.

I blew the horn in the passage which stirred the mechanisms far ahead of us. Maybe everything was done just in time. We are now standing here protecting Safi.

“Rion…!”

The dwarf blacksmith wiped away her tears.

This reminded me of Father somehow, and so I forced myself to smile, nodding as firmly as I could—trying to look dependable.

“It’s all right now. We’re all here—together.”

At the front, Thor the God of Thunder stood like a wall, followed by Loki, Uru, and Sigris—the four gods forming our vanguard. A step behind them, Solana hovered close to us. Mia-san readied her chain axe and Felix-san leveled his staff. We held our formation on the dungeon floor.

But that’s not all. We got allies above as well. The vast chamber rose like a hollow cylinder, ringed with multiple tiers of platforms. Mounted on them were heavy ballistae and arcane engines and every weapon are trained upon the enemy.

Yes—the enemy.

All we had to do was look up to understand the scale of what we are about to face.

Pressed against the far wall, loomed the massive form of Flamebone Surtr. Even in kneeling posture, the flame titan’s body made the “Incarnation of Rage” or the “Flame Golem” we had fought before look small. If he stood to his full height, I think he would easily near twenty meters.

And at that same level, standing with folded arms as if enjoying the spectacle, was a woman cloaked in black.

“Well, well… it’s been a while, hasn’t it, horn boy?”

I took a deep breath. I readied my blue crystal short sword and crouched down. Step by step, I repeated the movements I had learned.

“How’s your little sister these days?”

Cutting through the tense silence of the great hall that’s in a deadlock, came her gloomy voice.

So it really was her!

As I had thought, she’s the slave trader who had shown up in the Royal Capital. But I am not  someone who would falter at her taunts.

I pressed my lips shut and met the woman’s gaze head-on.

“Your little awakening skill is quite marvelous. I’d dearly love to have such a gift for myself… But tell me, your sister also have something unusual, right? Some delightful power of her own, isn’t it?”

My body almost instinctively took a step backwards.

The sound of her voice was vile, coiling through the chamber like a great serpent, prickling at my instincts with a primal warning.

“Have you release some kind of seal inside her? As though… there’s something else living within?”

Lu’s face flashed across my mind.

The first time she’d used her skill, Creation, she’d seemed shackled, as though bound by invisible cuffs.

“Right, I thought so. Fufufu.”

Had she sensed my hesitation?

“But, is it really okay for you to be here? You see, no matter where she’s concealed, a brother who loves his sister will always, always find her…”

Brother…?

What is she talking about?

“You are not the only one who has the right to call that child ‘little sister’ you know.”

I felt my stance waver, the short sword trembling in my grip. The most important thing to me—my family—had been spit out with malice.

“W–what are—!”

“Rion!”

Solana’s voice cut sharp at my side.

She was pointing into the darkness where a flicker of crimson had begun to bloom.

“G-garmr’s fireball!”

Safi’s shout tore through the chamber.

Damn it! I let myself get distracted!

The blazing sphere, birthed from the maw of the hellhound, streaked toward us like a falling star.

“Fufufu. Really now… you’re playing fire before a god huh.”

With a snap of his fingers, Loki smothered the fireballs in mid-flight. The flames vanished as though they had never existed.

And with that, the battle resumed.

From the walls, the dwarves’ contraptions unleashed their fury. Arrows and bolts rained down with bursts of magic, searing the horde of monsters. But no rain of steel could stop them all—those too swift or too fierce, tore through the barrage fire. However, each that broke the line found themselves engulfed in Loki’s conjured flame. They were incinerated before they could close the distance.

This was a battle between two massive armies. A scale I had never seen before.

At that moment, a sound came. Chains jingled, heavy and merciless, they start slithering across the stone like iron serpents.

“To reach Surtr, we first have to carve our way through this horde of monster.”

Mia-san narrowed her eyes at the titan waiting fifty meters ahead.

The colossus living flame crouched with arms crossed before its chest, gathering power. Looking more closely, streaks of red and black, writhing like curses, is rising from his body.

“…That looks like the same effect as the titan’s ashes, doesn’t it?”

At my words, Felix-san lowered his staff and peered ahead with his far sight.

“Most likely. He’s undoing the seals on the creatures around him.”

My throat tightened, a hard swallow escaping.

The monsters kept coming—more and more pouring through the dwarves’ defenses, heedless of the bolts and fire raining down. Even with the awakening horn and the gods at our side, I couldn’t really lean on their protection forever.

Because in the end, I would still have to face Surtr.

I tried to summarize the situation.

“So, in other words—”

“Until Surtr falls, the monsters will be endless.”

Felix-san finished my words for me.

Mia-san groaned.

“Ugh, that’s just brutal…”

I didn’t say it aloud, but I felt the same.

Thor looked back at us and laughed.

“It isn’t just the monsters.”

Thor’s great eyes lifted to the black-robed woman standing on the high platform.

“Surtr’s loosening those seals for something bigger—something far worse.”

As if in answer, the flame titan uncrossed his massive arms. His right hand rose, fingers spread out toward one of the platforms—the one mounted with a great ballista.

“Everyone, move!”

Safi’s cry echoed.

From Surtr’s fingertips burst a blazing sphere of fire, a miniature sun hurled straight at the dwarves’ defenses. It struck before the ballista, exploding it in a thunderous bloom. Dust and smoke roared outwards right after.

—However, two figures intercepted it. Uru, God of the hunt, and Sigris, God of medicine. They soared up together, erecting a wall of magic that shielded the platform from ruin. Hovering in mid air, the gods braced for another strike.

Surtr exhaled in fury. His breath was molten heat. The wave of it searing even across the chamber where we stood far from him.

“…Protect the dwarf. Break through the monsters. And strike Surtr down. That’s it.”

Thor’s words made me clench my jaw. I nodded back.

The dwarves turned their artillery on the titan, launching bolts and spells. Surtr was ready though. A red-black barrier spread before him, knocking every shot aside.

It was like a castle siege.

With the dwarves focused on the titan, the monsters swarmed free. The ground shook. Golems thundered forward. Golems, Garm, and even rock worms closed in on us, shaking the ground.

“Ya!”

Solana thrust both hands forward, a burst of golden light exploding from her palms. The force hurled a golem and the hellhound Garmr together, slamming them into the far wall in a tangled heap.

Thor’s hammer struck, scattering foes like dry twigs. Loki’s magic flared as well. The cascade of fire and darkness pushed back the enemies. If viewed from above, it might have looked like a surging black wave colliding with the gods and breaking apart.

“Amazing…”

I could only stare in awe.

The dwarves’ ingenious weapons. The gods’ overwhelming power.  Beyond them all, the apocalypse embodied by the flame titan Surtr, towers above the swarm. And we—mere humans—were in the very heart of it.

“Rion!”

Solana turned toward me, her smile is small but radiant.

Heat surged through my chest.

“Everyone—forward!”

I shouted. We advanced, cutting a path through the black tide of the apocalypse.

Monsters came without end.

A Garmr lunged at us with its fangs but I dove beneath its jaws, stabbing it in the throat with my crystal short sword. Against a rock worm, I wake up the wind spirit. Its wind blade cut through the worm’s armored carapace, cutting it in half.

“Haah!”

Mia-san’s axe rang against a golem’s stone hide. The crimson runes carved into her weapon flared, blasting a part of its hide into shards. With the glowing core exposed, Felix-san’s ice magic speared through, freezing and shattering it.

“Gooaaaaah!”

A massive four-legged creature approached, letting out a particularly loud roar. Its horns were ablaze, a Muspelheim Aurochs—commonly known as the “Fire Bull.” It’s a mid-boss of the Alvis Dungeon. A nightmare in its own right. Head lowered, horns aglow, the beast charged straight at us, its bulk the size of two wagons barreling side by side.

“Haah!”

I lunged forward, lightning crackling along the blade in my hand. With the Thunder God’s Protection, lightning flowed into my crystal short sword. My weapon blazed, and I brought it down in a flash of stormlight.

“Grrrhh—!?”

The fire bull’s horn met the strike head-on—only to be blasted back as if struck by a thunderbolt. Its massive body swayed through the chamber, toppling down several golems.

“D-did the horn do this…?”

The gods’ power is stronger now.

To think that even a dungeon mid-boss could be flung aside in a single strike is simply amazing.

Felix-san and Mia-san stared at me, equally astonished.

A shiver of exhilaration ran through me.

“Come on, everyone! Forward!”

No matter how many monsters rose against us, we would keep pushing through.

――So, you’ve come this far huh.

The voice rolled like distant thunder, shaking the air itself.

Surtr’s eyes flared crimson, casting their light down upon us. Just the weight of that gaze felt like it could have crushed us outright.

If mere sight could kill, we’d all be gone.

“…Very well.”

From a platform above Surtr’s head, the black-robed woman stepped forward.

She drew back her hood. Long black hair, twisted and coiled like serpents, tumbled free. Her red lips curved into a mocking smile.

“Now that Surtr is fully awake… perhaps it’s time I joined the fray.”

Right after she said that, the air around her surged with a murky glow. It’s red and black, resembling the ashes of the titan. It is now rapidly gathering around the woman.

“Boy with the horn.”

She spoke. Her voice is filled with cruel amusement.

“Let me name myself properly. I am Serpentbone Jor, one of the monsters birthed by Ymir-sama.”

The woman looked down upon us and spoke.

“Behold—the World Serpent, Jormungandr.”

From her body, a foul, tar-black vapor erupted, streaming upward through the rift torn in the ceiling. It surged out into the open night sky. And then, under the pale light of the moon, it appeared.

Black scales. Golden eyes. A maw of crimson.

I forgot to breathe.

The serpent was so enormous that it completely covered the night sky visible through the rift. Its girth alone looked as if it could barely squeeze through the Royal Capital’s main gates. Its length? Impossible to fathom. Yet every fiber of my being knew—it was colossal beyond reckoning.

I know. It’s a creature that could coil itself around castles, around fortresses, and crush them as though they were toys.

“Serpentbone…”

I remembered the mural. The one I had seen in the Southern Dungeon near the capital. It spoke of the lieutenants born from Ymir’s bones. From the bones of both of his arms, an enormous serpent had been created.

“T-this is…”

I couldn’t help but let my voice slip out.

Above Surtr’s blazing form, the rift gaped wide, and through it the serpent’s face gazed down.

――Well then… while you’re all busy fighting Surtr, perhaps I’ll pay a visit to Alvis.

The massive eye curved into a crescent shape.

The serpent withdrew its head from the rift, turning its gaze toward the distant city. Faintly—so faintly we could still hear them—rose the screams of its people, already sensing the encroaching horror.

――You never imagined, did you? That two lieutenants of such magnitude would stand against you at once.

A streak of red light burst upward, hurtling towards the rift.

Lightning exploded against the serpent’s scaled face.

“…So it was you.”

Thor had thrown Mjölnir.

The hammer returned to his hand as he rose into the air, hovering within the vast chamber. His eyes locked on the serpent’s.

The World Serpent glared back at him.

――Last time… the twilight of the gods ended without our battle reaching its end.

“Hmph. The same is true for me.”

The thunder god’s and the serpent’s voices reverberated off the high stone vaults.

Then Thor’s gaze fell upon me.

“Rion! Leave the outside to me. The inside—”

I raised my short sword high in answer.

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Thor smiled. Like a brief moment of sunshine on the rocky mountain, his face quickly returned to that of the stern god of thunder, but it was undoubtedly a smile. And in that fleeting moment, I felt the same red light burn within my chest, just as it burned in his.

“…Thank you. You’ve become a fine warrior.”

With that, Thor flew through the rift, out into the night.

Outside—the Thunder God against the World Serpent Jormungandr.

Inside—us against Surtr.

Two monsters of the apocalypse. Both ours to face.

“…Father must have been afraid too.”

But he had chosen nonetheless—chose to protect.

I made my decision too.

I hesitated and spent a lot of time thinking about it, but I’ve finally found the answer. So now, I am moving forward.

――Then, come.

Flamebone Surtr also rose, along with a wave of heat.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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