214 CHAPTER 207

If you want to read up to 20 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

If you give corn them stones, he will give you them extra chaps.

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked with Thor through the path that Mimir had pointed for us, for hours. Eventually reaching the roots, much to my surprise, the roots, were just like their name suggested, literal roots.

I was surprised by this, for the longest time I always thought the tree of Yggdrasil was more of an idea than a tangible concept, with the roots being something else, like, I don't know? A collection of portals connecting the nine realms.

However, it seemed I was clearly wrong.

Though I suppose in a peculiar way, I wasn't entirely wrong if I think about it.

Because even though the roots were literal roots, they gave off a vibe, a feeling that was well beyond anything I had ever seen.

They vibrated with cosmic energy.

Even from afar.

I could feel the roots, and how the cosmic energy moved within them.

In short, the tree, the roots, everything was but an illusion in a sense.

The real form of the tree was one of pure energy.

Pure cosmic energy.

"Now what?" Thor muttered, turning to me.

"I don't know," I replied.

If my Norse mythology knowledge was anything to go by, Odin accessed the roots by almost killing himself.

Which was something I was not willing to do.

"I guess is time to die," Thor grinned.

"Excuse me?" I asked, turning to look at him with a look of disbelief.

"Well, father gained the power of Yggdrasil by almost killing himself, right?" Thor asked, to which I nodded, already knowing where this was going.

"Thor, you don't have to beat your father in every sacrifice!" I replied.

"Bah! Worry not, I won't truly die, I know it, a perk of giving both of my eyes to the well, I know a whole lot more," Thor smiled, trying to reassure me his plan was sound.

"So, you will kill yourself, but not really? How does that even work?" I asked.

"Well, I will die, but in the process will merge my essence with Yggdrasil, which in turn will, in theory, resurrect me, but with the knowledge of the runes, and much, much more," Thor answered.

I sighed, rubbing my temples, "I don't think it's a good idea, that… in theory, part feels… uncertain."

"Worry not, brother of uncertain age, and origin, I Thor! Shall conquer this mighty Tree, for I am, worthy, for I am, MIGHTY!" Thor declared, his voice booming across the room.

So Thor even with the knowledge of the well was still… Thor, the one I knew, "If you die, I will find a way to resurrect you, just so that I can kill you, is that clear?" I asked, sighing, knowing very well, he would stop at nothing, for he was MIGHTY stubborn.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Thor beamed at me, giving me a hug.

"Now go, and kill yourself, but not complelty," I smiled.

"Will do!" Thor laughed, walking towards the runes.

Now, the question was, how would I access the roots, without… the killing myself part, I guess I would have time to figure that out, while Thor did his… thing.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thor did as he had said he would, and hanged himself to the roots of Yggdrasil with a chain I gave him, and then proceeded to kill himself, it that specific order, needless to say, it was a disturbing event to witness.

But I tried to pay it no mind, as I focused on trying to find another way to access the runes of creation. One that didn't involve the possibility of killing myself.

Eventually, an idea came to mind.

Minutes after Thor killed himself.

What if I… entered the roots of Yggdrasil with my soul, without killing myself?

Months ago, I had trained with the ancient one in the arts of soul casting, all in an attempt to prepare for the quantum virus, something we eventually discarded and instead used a golem, because it was safer.

Nonetheless, I still learned a valuable skill, [Soul Casting]

A magic tree that required the user to be in astral form, aka soul form to use this particular skill.

So, if I accessed that form, and entered the tree, I should, in theory, be able to access the same state of being Thor was at.

Because, technically, that was what Thor did, killing himself, so that his soul entered the roots.

Meaning, in theory, my idea should work.

"Ok," I sighed, cracking my neck from side to side, before accessing my Astral form, leaving my body in a sitting position on the ground.

Even to this day, seeing my body from a third point of view, was… bizarre, so to speak.

But enough about that, time to see if my theory worked.

With that thought in mind, I turned around to face the roots, leaving my body behind to see… something I was not fully expecting. The roots themselves had changed or rather disappeared, leaving behind something… new, something that looked different. It was almost as if I was staring into a brain, more specifically the neurons of a brain, working, sending signals between each other, millions of them each passing second.

The blinking lights these neurons sent between each other made the image of the roots but unlike the image I was once able to see with my body, this image was ever-changing, each instance of it being vastly different, but in essence the same.

"I guess it worked," I muttered with a smile. Now, it was time to see if I could access the roots themselves.

Collecting my thoughts, I approached the… roots, and placed my hand on them, and immediately, felt a pull, almost as if the roots were calling me, beckoning me to let go, and join them.

I smiled.

My theory had worked.

The question now was, would I be able to leave the roots, if I accessed them?

I guess I would find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moment I let go and allowed Yggdrasil to swallow me.

Several notifications appeared.

I was gaining knowledge, understanding about the runes, it was all… automatic, like blinking, each passing second I knew more, I gained more, I became more.

It was beautiful.

I felt at peace within the tree.

I felt good.

It was almost addictive.

I wonder if the runes will help me understand all the shit that's been going on.