Ruined Asgard

"What's that up ahead?!"

After roughly thirty hours of flight, Artoria suddenly exclaimed.

Arkhan squinted into the distance, spotting an aurora that had appeared, stretching across the sky, constantly changing colors in a divine and magnificent display.

The giant eagle hovered in place, its body trembling slightly, adamantly refusing to approach as if it harbored a strong fear of the aurora.

In Arkhan's mind, Nidhogg's voice echoed.

"We're approaching the center of Asgard. That aurora is a rule imposed by Odin. That aurora will instantly kill any creature entering the divine realm without the gods' permission."

Arkhan was deep in thought while rubbing his chin. Several seconds later, he decided.

"Well then, let's go down."

The giant eagle dove, descending with Arkhan and Artoria to the ground.

"Thanks for the ride, buddy. Hope we'll meet again someday." Arkhan patted the eagle's head. The creature nuzzled against him reluctantly, then flapped its enormous wings, soaring into the distant sky.

"I thought you might kill it..." Artoria sighed.

"Phantasmal Species like that are rare these days. Killing one would only diminish their numbers. Why bother with such things?" Arkhan chuckled, turning to look at the aurora spanning the skies.

From this vantage point, he truly appreciated the grandeur and vastness of the aurora. The ancient and majestic aura emanating from it made him feel small and humble in the face of a towering mountain.

'A rule that has endured for thousands of years can still produce such effects. The Norse pantheon must have been very powerful...' Arkhan sighed lightly, overwhelmed with emotion.

He had faced God King Nuada of the Tuatha De Danann, even slain him with his own hands, yet the threat Nidhogg hinted at now seemed greater than Nuada.

'Indeed, one cannot generalize about gods and their strengths...' Arkhan silently mused. He then asked Nidhogg, "What do we do next?"

"Just use the Primordial Rune." Nidhogg responded. "The Primordial Rune belongs to Odin's power. Easily pierces through this rule."

Arkhan nodded, his fingers tracing a complex, deep green rune in the air. An ancient and vast resonance filled the Rune, interacting with the aurora ahead, causing ripples like concentric circles to spread.

Afterward, the aurora gradually dimmed, revealing a black void large enough for two people to walk side by side.

"Be cautious. Inside is the dwelling place of the Aesir. It could be dangerous." Arkhan warned Artoria, who nodded with a slightly serious expression.

Together, they entered the black void. A mild squeezing sensation on their skin, akin to being in solidified jelly, lasted only for a moment and quickly dissipated.

Blinding light flooded in like a tidal wave. Arkhan and Artoria instinctively closed their eyes, and when they reopened them, the scenery before them had undergone a radical transformation.

The first thing they saw was a crimson sky, with flames and thunder roaring within it, emitting a drum-like muffled sound. The land lay in ruins, riddled with massive craters resembling meteor impacts and pitch-black crevices resembling bottomless abysses.

The dilapidated temple lay in ruins, its intricate patterns scorched by flames into mottled black marks. The glorious roof, once magnificent, now bore the scars of colossal stones, rendering it unrecognizable and devoid of its former glory.

No signs of life permeated the sky or the earth; the entire world lay silent, akin to a graveyard, shrouded in the breath of desolation.

No, to be precise, this was indeed a graveyard.

A tomb belonging to the gods.

Arkhan and Artoria gazed at the desolate wasteland, rendered speechless for a prolonged moment.

"Is this... Ragnarok?" Artoria murmured, her eyes reflecting a hint of distant bewilderment.

Arkhan exhaled slowly, shook his head, and dismissed the futile thoughts.

"Enough reminiscing; let's remember we have business at hand."

"Mhm." Artoria nodded and followed him, moving forward.

As they stepped into the ruins, the desolation and silence intensified. Memories of past pain involuntarily flooded their minds. Despair, sadness, sorrow—negative emotions surged, prompting an impulse towards self-destruction.

"Teacher, something doesn't feel right about this place." Artoria furrowed her brow.

"It's the lingering aura from the resentment of dying gods during the Ragnarok. Stay too long, and even gods would be affected."

Arkhan explained and gestured towards the void. A Crimson feather fell from nowhere, landing on Artoria's head, instantly refreshing her mind and dispelling all negative emotions.

"You seem quite familiar with this place, Teacher." Artoria said, tilting her head.

"Because someone is giving me information." Arkhan pointed to his head.

He then shared Nidhogg's situation with her and explained the purpose of their journey.

She realized why her teacher would risk so much to enter the Norse Realms. If they could rescue Nidhogg, their chances against Vortigern would be significantly enhanced.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, her expression stiffened slightly.

"Um... Teacher, can Nidhogg sense what's happening outside when you're asleep?" Artoria asked nervously while averting her eyes.

Arkhan was taken aback. He had never considered this and began to consult Nidhogg in his mind. After a moment, he shook his head.

"Nope, she's just residing in my consciousness. When I'm asleep, she can't sense anything. Why do you ask?"

"Ah, nothing, just curious... Just a random thought..." Artoria replied with a smile, visibly relieved. 'Hahh... I thought I was caught...'