35 Midgard Hunt Finale
And so, as if the heroes had leaped from the very pages of fairy tales, the dragon and the chimera clashed in a cataclysmic battle. The monstrous creatures tore into each other with unhinged fury, their razor-sharp claws and fangs capable of obliterating entire worlds if they so desired. Yet, amidst their savage combat, the lords were consumed by their own internal conflicts, oblivious to the existence of lesser beings such as humans.
With a maddening scream, the dragon launched itself at the chimera, unleashing a torrent of lightning from its gaping maw. Its colossal wings whipped up tempestuous gusts of wind, adding to the tumultuous spectacle. The lightning struck the chimera's body, inflicting excruciating pain akin to a thousand needles piercing its flesh, rendering it momentarily immobile. Before the bewildered monster could comprehend its predicament, a colossal storm dragon materialized before it, rending it asunder with its colossal talons. In a final act of triumph, the dragon opened its maw wide, devouring the remnants of the defeated chimera, and consuming its vanquished foe entirely.
"I fear this was a grave misstep," Heimdall calmly remarked, his gaze fixed upon his reckless comrade. He understood the perilous nature of their ally's actions. "There shall be no good that arises from this," Kuat added, shaking his head in dismay. "He will not emerge unscathed! Storms capable of rending through the fabric of time rage within my very being!" The dragon's proclamation reverberated loudly, attempting to assuage the concerns of his companions. "I hope your words ring true," Heimdall skeptically replied, his grip tightening around his trusty axe. "And true to the laws of our genre, in this very moment, a creature bursts forth from your belly and emerges!" Kuat gestured with his hand, pointing at the dragon's abdomen. Both allies regarded him with a mixture of disbelief and apprehension, sensing that he may have tempted fate itself. Strangely enough, Kuat's words proved to be a haunting premonition: the colossal figure of the dragon contorted in agonizing pain, and with maniacal laughter, a spawn of the abyss burst forth from its tortured back.
"Wow, he's no ordinary foe," murmured Kuat, his gaze fixed on the gruesome scene unfolding before him. His ally, engulfed in a torrent of his own lightning, writhed in agony. Dark bolts of energy cascaded from the dragon's back, inflicting unimaginable pain. It became clear that the spawn of the abyss possessed the ability to turn the dragon's power against itself. Now, the shaman's internal storms threatened to become his grave.
Absorbing a fragment of the storm's power, the chimera reveled in the surge of incredible strength that coursed through its body. It clutched onto the dragon, driven by insatiable greed, seeking to devour its prey. Shango struggled desperately to break free, but the chimera paid no heed, unleashing merciless flames of the abyss upon him. "I don't want to die!" cried the shaman, his voice tinged with desperation as he diminished into the form of a shrinking dragon.
"We must separate them swiftly!" shouted Asir, wielding his massive axe with all his might, aiming for the chimera's head. But the creature remained unfazed, its insatiable hunger unabated as it continued to consume its prey. Enraged, Heimdall unleashed a powerful blow, burying his weapon so deeply into the chimera that retrieving it seemed impossible. Yet, the monster merely turned its head toward Asir, gnashing its teeth, and melding its body with the embedded weapon. "My axe!" growled the gatekeeper through gritted teeth, straining to reclaim his weapon.
Kuat longed to lend his aid, but Asir's colossal figure blocked his path. "It devoured my weapon!" exclaimed Heimdall, taking a sharp step back. At that very moment, serpentine forms emerged from the chimera's body, their venomous fangs narrowly missing their mark as Heimdall deftly evaded their strikes. "I'm sorry, Shango, but I see no other recourse," Kuat said with a heavy heart, waiting for Asir to step aside. With resolve, he unleashed the power of his red sun upon the enemy before him, fully aware that he might be sealing his ally's fate. A tremendous explosion reverberated through the air, followed by a blinding light that engulfed all present. When the brilliance subsided, only Shango remained, kneeling with labored breaths and seared by burns.
"Behind you, Kuat!" whispered the shaman, his voice feeble, pointing a trembling finger at the blond man before succumbing to unconsciousness. Heimdall and Kuat whirled around, but it was too late. The chimera impaled the sunbearer's heart with its tail, swiftly severing his head with its razor-sharp claws. "What are you?" Heimdall uttered in sheer horror, recoiling in disbelief.
The chimera fixed its soulless gaze upon Asir, its elongated neck stretching to unimaginable lengths while its jaws widened like a voracious abyss. It slithered towards Kuat's lifeless body, assuming the sinuous form of a serpent before swallowing him whole, robbing Asir of his fallen comrades in this nightmarish confrontation. "Ha-ha! I have felled creatures a hundredfold more formidable than you! Yet, it seems that my demise is at hand. Imir's Beard, grant me mercy as you lay waste to my brother! Unleash upon him such torment that even in subsequent incarnations, he shall bear witness to the horrors I have endured because of his foolhardiness!" Heimdall's voice turned somber, the flames in his eyes extinguished, replaced by an unquenchable thirst for battle. With clenched fists, Asir drew a deep breath, and with an unleashed cry, he hurtled himself towards the enemy, fully aware that this might mark his final stand.
*******
Deep within the recesses of the royal palace, a gloomy dungeon served as a wretched abode for those forsaken by the Allfather's mercy. Bound tightly by the sinewy roots of a colossal tree that intertwined with the chamber, the prisoners remained inexorably linked to the throne of the One-Eyed King. It was through this macabre connection that the Allfather consumed their power, draining their life energy to further augment his already formidable might. It was a morbid embodiment of the ancient saying: "If you offer Odin a roasted morsel from your flock, he shall politely decline, for why settle for a piece when he can seize the entire herd?"
Hidden amidst these desolate walls was Ulfrun, ensnared by the twisting roots that ensconced her body, leaving her bereft of any hope of escape. The unfortunate giantess had become a living font of sustenance for the Allfather, her strength leeched far more vigorously than that of her fellow captives, pushing her perilously close to the precipice of death. Her very movements were stifled, and resistance against her tormentors seemed an impossible task. And now, as if adhering to a grim timetable, those who reveled in the cacophony of cries and screams from the fallen Valkyrie arrived once more.
"Today, I demand that you finally unveil the truth! I tire of dismembering you and piecing you back together, you wretched crone," arrogantly and repulsively declared a brown-haired youth of sixteen, emerging from the shadowed corridor with a retinue of two Valkyries armed to the hilt. "Hey, old witch! I am addressing you!" the youth bellowed, swinging his arm with malevolent intent and delivering a brutal blow to Ulfrun's face. Yet, a faint smile etched its way across the woman's tormented visage as she whispered, "Ha-ha, forgive me, young one. I yearn for slumber when I must engage with emptiness." "Old witch!" the youth hissed with fury, preparing to strike her once again. However, one of the Valkyries interposed, reminding him, "Allow me to remind you, sir, that Lord Odin forbade inflicting grievous harm upon her."
The youth's fist slowly came to a halt in front of the woman's face. Anger coursed through him, but he fought to regain control, exhaling heavily. He stroked his chin, attempting to calm himself, and sneered, "You heard, old crone. Someone aims to sell you into slavery! Ha-ha, but truth be told, a repugnant creature like you would make a better mother to swine." The youth spat on the floor, purposefully avoiding the woman as he walked past. "Ha-ha, I'm afraid that position is already occupied by your mommy" the woman retorted sharply, bending her towering form slightly. "Hmm, it seems you possess the tongue of a troll. However, such language is inappropriate for a future slave!" Seizing the woman by her hair, the youth intended to rip out her tongue but suddenly caught sight of a peculiar gleam in her eyes. Sensing imminent danger, he tried to retreat, but it was already too late. With a surge of strength, the giantess forcefully broke free from his grip, seized the boy by his throat, and slammed him against the wall with such force that his skull cracked slightly.
With a look of wild fear in his eyes, the boy desperately scanned the Valkyries, hoping they would rush to his aid. But to his dismay, they remained motionless, obediently kneeling down. "Hey, grandson, I'm here! Do you truly believe they would defy their former mistress?" Ulfrun taunted, her grip on the boy's throat tightening until the capillaries in his eyes burst. He struggled with every ounce of strength, but his efforts proved futile. Helplessness overcame him, and he whimpered like a helpless dog, praying for his grandmother's mercy.
"Please, grandma, I'm your grandson!" the youth managed to whisper, his voice strained as he clutched at the hand throttling him. "Yes, to my great regret, you are indeed my flesh and blood. But I would relish tearing out your insides and fashioning them into a noose around your neck!" Ulfrun hissed, her words laced with menace. She tightened her grip further, causing crimson splotches to mark the boy's skin. "Yet, I dare not displease your damn grandfather! Besides, dispatching two guardians of the Rainbow Bridge simultaneously would be excessive!" With her final words, a wide smile crept across her face, akin to a fox reveling in its prey. Meanwhile, her eyes underwent a transformation, resembling those of Heimdall himself, reflecting numerous realms within their depths.
"You accursed witch! What have you done to my father?" the boy, summoning the last vestiges of his strength, shouted in defiance. But instead of receiving an answer, he was met with a powerful blow to his cheek, causing him to promptly lose consciousness. "Haemon, I know it's you! Soon, we shall be reunited," Ulfrun murmured calmly, her gaze fixed on a point in the distance, imperceptible to ordinary mortals.
