260

Casket of ancient winters

The ice and fire clashed, producing a violent sound. However, the power of the flame gloves was clearly no match for the Frozen Winter Coffin, and Forseti's strength was evidently inferior to Fabti's.

A thick column of icy blue light drowned the flames and headed straight for Forseti. Seeing this, he had no choice but to summon the Sanctuary.

"Holy Shield!"

The rune of holy light instantly enveloped his whole body. The next moment, the icy blue light column struck, but it couldn't make a ripple in the holy shield.

The holy shield remained unshaken, but Forseti was sweating profusely. Once the duration of the Holy Shield expired, he wouldn't last half a second against the power of the Frozen Winter Coffin.

The icy blue light column persisted, and Forseti consumed another Divine Shield spell fragment, giving himself another second. This couldn't continue. He didn't have many Holy Shield fragments left and would soon die under the Casket's power.

Forseti's mind raced. He then had an idea: the magic floating cloak ceased its agitation, and the flames dissipated, making him appear like a falling corpse.

The icy blue light column stopped immediately.

Forseti was overjoyed, quickly scanning the surroundings and spotting an iceberg not far away. After falling to a suitable height, he reignited the divine flame. Two intense, dazzling white fire columns shot out from the flame gloves, altering his trajectory as he flew behind the iceberg.

The ice-blue beam of light struck again but hit the iceberg instead.

"Boom—"

A loud noise echoed as the iceberg cracked, sending large chunks of ice flying and causing the nearby ground to tremble. Forseti glanced back, then continued to seek other icebergs for cover, cautiously flying behind them.

The icy blue light column paused for a while. However, just as Forseti was about to fly away, an extremely cold hue lit up from a distance.

This time, it wasn't a beam but an ice-blue waterfall of light, covering the sky and the sun, even more magnificent than a mountain, as if it were hanging down from the heavens.

"Boom—"

The ice-blue waterfall that covered the sky and the sun swept past, turning everything it touched into powder.

Except for the Holy Shield.

The waterfall of light plowed through the ground, leaving only Forseti's figure, shrouded in holy light, floating in the air after activating the Holy Shield again. Looking at the desolate surroundings, Forseti felt almost suffocated.

He recalled that the Casket of ancient winters's ultimate power could freeze an entire planet. With only one Divine Shield fragment left, he was desperate. What should he do?

What should he do?

He suddenly felt like a fake Paladin. After all, a real Paladin wouldn't die, and the invincible Hearthstone would always be there. He could even spit in contempt before leaving.

Forseti was panicked, and the Frost Giants were equally shocked.

"Why isn't he dead yet?" Several Frost Giants asked in disbelief, staring at the figure in the sky.

As an artifact of Jotunheim, the Casket of ancient winters possessed the power to freeze a planet. Few in the universe could withstand its continuous attacks.

Among the Asgardians, God King Odin was one, the sealed Cul was another, the half-arrested Ullr was one, and Tyr, the god of war, might also be counted. Beyond these, who else?

If Forseti was truly such a strong figure, why did Byrest show signs of a fierce battle before he died?

Fabti held the Casket of ancient winters with a grim expression. She took a deep breath, and her hands glowed with ice-blue brilliance, echoing the Casket. The blue light inside the Casket churned, and the surrounding cold air surged.

According to legend, the inside of the Casket of ancient winters was the only place in the universe that reached absolute zero. No one knew what lay within.

In moments, the ice-blue waterfall of light emerged again, projected from the Coffin, turning into a weather phenomenon that covered the sky, rushing forward with great momentum.

"Boom—"

This time, the noise was smaller, mainly because there was nothing left to destroy. The ice-blue waterfall surged toward Forseti with overwhelming force.

Forseti was about to activate the Holy Shield again when a loud noise suddenly erupted from the sky.

"Boom!"

A massive thunderbolt crashed onto the ice-blue waterfall, causing it to shudder and collapse into stars, disappearing into the void.

Forseti looked up and saw the eight-legged celestial horse Sleipnir not far above him. Odin, the God King, sat astride it, wielding the spear of eternity.

"Your Majesty Odin!"

Odin nodded, looking at Forseti with a smile. "I already know about your battle with Byrest. Asgard is proud of you. You should leave now."

"Yes." Forseti exhaled a long breath and turned away.

Though Odin was alone, the Frost Giants were nervous, as if surrounded by an army.

"Grimir has been captured, his troops wiped out, and Byrest died by Forseti's hand. Fabti, do you wish to continue this fight?" Odin asked slowly.

Fabti trembled slightly. "I want to avenge my son."

"In battle, your son's skills were not enough. This cannot be considered hatred," Odin said. "If you must blame someone, blame Byrest and Grimir for underestimating their enemy, or yourself for failing in your duty as a mother."

Just as Fabti was about to speak, Odin continued, "Fabti, do you know that Forseti, the one who defeated your son, is merely a first-order divine power less than a hundred years old?"

"What?" The Frost Giants were shocked.

"Impossible! How could a first-order divine power defeat Byrest?"

Odin explained, "Forseti's holy light magic can restrain demons and evil beings. Your son, a second-order divine power, was defeated by Forseti. Why do you think that is?"

Fabti was speechless, a look of pain flashing across her eyes.

"Fabti, you cannot defeat me, even with the Casket ," Odin continued. "But I can offer you a chance for peace."

"If you are willing to surrender, to recognize Asgard as the ruler of the Nine Realms, and the King of Asgard as the Lord of the Nine Realms, I can spare you."

"Life? What kind of life? Like the slaves who built the Golden Palace?" Fabti asked.

Odin smiled. "Of course not. The Golden Palace has been built. They are not slaves. Under Asgard's protection, they live better than before."

"As for the specific way of life... Fabti, we can discuss it separately."