The Divine Twilight's Return

Chapter 458: Star, Niflheim (3)

J?rmungandr burst into laughter amid the thick darkness. Living up to his Divine Name, the world around him seemed to shake as he laughed.

The woman with long black hair beside him didn’t seem to be in the mood to laugh. “How can you laugh after what he just said?”

Hel glared at J?rmungandr, her small wings fluttering. The youngest of Loki’s Three Demonic Monsters, she was known as the protector and vanguard of <Niflheim>. She was also the leader of <Helheim>, the prison where she alluded and trapped the dead.

Ssshhh!

J?rmungandr slowly uncoiled himself, his scales brushing against one another. His big serpentine eyes gazed at his adorable baby sister. 『Should I cry instead?』

“Stop spouting nonsense! What do you plan to do now? I told you over and over that we should strike him before he could become a real threat—”

『Don’t you think it’s a little too late to remind me about that?』

Hel snapped. “Hey! Drop the attitude already!”

However, for some reason, J?rmungandr just kept chuckling.『Hehehe!』

The more J?rmungandr laughed, the more frustrated Hel became. Nevertheless, J?rmungandr looked as if he didn’t plan to stop any time soon.

Hel massaged her aching temples. “What’s the plan? I know you like him, brother, but I doubt you’re crazy enough to hand him <Niflheim>.”

『No way. You know how much I love <Niflheim>.』

Hel pouted but still nodded. Although her annoying brother flipped her lid once in a while, she knew what he had to go through to build <Niflheim> to what it was now. As illegitimate children, Hel, J?rmungnadr, and Fenrir had to put excruciating efforts to establish their current standing in <Niflheim>.

『My insistence to have <Niflheim> join the <Anti-Star> Alliance certainly benefited us, but now that <Muspelheim> and <Jotunheim> fly under the same banner, it would be difficult for us to keep working with the alliance.』 J?rmungandr narrowed his eyes. 『We have to protect our identity.』

Hel nodded in agreement. Many of <Niflheim>’s people still praised Bestla’s glory. Now that Chang-Sun, a new Nine Heaven, had proclaimed himself as Bestla’s heir and united <Muspelheim> and <Jotunheim>, they would naturally be tempted to join him. There were already rumors about some of them furtively taking action.

As executives of <Niflheim>, Hel and J?rmungandr could never tolerate that. <Niflheim> already had their own state of affairs. If they blindly took Chang-Sun’s offer to pursue Bestla’s glory, they might have to let go of their entire identity. After all, based on his history, he would likely ask more from <Niflheim> than just an alliance or affiliation. They wouldn’t be able to blame anyone if they outlived their use in such a situation and Chang-Sun abandoned them.

‘Twilight is a born conqueror. He will definitely demand our absolute fealty. If we refuse, he’ll make us succumb by force, but we’d never do that,’ J?rmungandr thought.

Even if they only took Chang-Sun commanding <Niflheim> to join the battle earlier into consideration, it would still have been easy to reach such a conclusion. Although his tone was formal, his attitude was surely arrogant. His eyes conveyed his firm belief that <Niflheim> would join his side but also his intention to make them obey on the off chance that they refused.

The only silver lining they had was that Loki, J?rmungandr’s father and the king of <Niflheim>, had absolute influence over their <Society>.

‘This will destabilize the <Anti-Star> Alliance.’

Everyone, even the <Anti-Star> Alliance and <Horoscope>, had to join forces against this colossal catastrophe named Ubbo-Sathla. However, J?rmungandr thought that the chance of that happening was low. Just like other Worldlines, internal strife would likely send Worldline #801 crumbling down. Unfortunately, <Niflheim> didn’t really have any other choice.

『Let’s go see Father before we discuss countermeasures,』 J?rmungandr said.

Hel quietly hopped on J?rmungandr’s enormous head.

Rumble―!

J?rmungandr silently made his way to Loki.

* * *

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ chuckles at your order!]

[The Channeling to the Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ has been temporarily destabilized.]

...

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ is perplexed, wondering if he has been too soft around you.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ strongly warns you, saying that he’s willing to let your rudeness go if you take back what you just said.]

‘I knew it,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Unlike <Muspelheim> and <Jotunheim>, which had already faced <Extinction> once, <Niflheim> survived and became so powerful that they were now considered one of Worldline #801’s major <Societies>. They had even gone up against Celestial King Odin’s <Asgard> during their prime.

Bowing before Chang-Sun would never be an option for <Niflheim>. Nevertheless, he still had to bring them under his command.

Chang-Sun tilted his head in confusion. “I should get <Niflheim> after bringing back the Fire and Frost Giants? Will they let me? They don’t have any reason to be affiliated to anyone.”

“You have to complete your power as a Giant.”

“... Good point.”

Thanatos shook his head. “I’m not advising you to subjugate all Giants just so you can seal Celestials.”

“Why, then?”

“It’s to create a deterrent over <Heaven>.”

Chang-Sun stroked his chin. “Hmmmm...”

“The more free Celestials and Star Signs are, the more they badly affect the universe.”

“Got any suggestions on how I should do this?”

“How about this?”

Recalling Thanatos’ proposal, which he had given with a subtle smile, Chang-Sun chuckled. ‘He has all sorts of plots in his head. I’m not sure how he could have let <Heaven> run wild until now.’

Unfortunately, despite how frightening Thanatos’ plan was, a struggle for dominance against <Niflheim> was inevitable. Chang-Sun glared at the message, refusing to lose this battle.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ dumbfoundedly chuckles upon realizing that you meant what you said!]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ scowls at you.]

...

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ looks back and forth between you and the Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent,’ growing anxious as she watches the fight for dominance!]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ attempts to mediate between you and the Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent.’]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is preparing to descend.]

Paah―!

Something flickered between Chang-Sun and J?rmungandr’s message window, but it quickly dimmed out.

[The descent of the Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ has been forcibly canceled!]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ has stopped her youngest daughter.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ strongly protests to her mother!]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ asks her youngest daughter to just observe for now.]

...

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ silently watches you!]

It seemed Tiamat had stopped Pabilsag’s every effort to intervene.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ says that she trusts you would know the reason behind her decision.]

Chang-Sun faintly smiled at her message, then turned back to J?rmungandr’s. “I take it you’re letting your mother’s homeland be destroyed, then?”

The ‘Iron Forest,’ Jarnvidr, was the homeland of both Skathi and Angrboda the Witch, the mother of Loki’s Three Demonic Creatures. Chang-Sun was using their deep love for their mother.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ frowns and shouts that—!]

Pzzz!

J?rmungandr’s message suddenly broke. Another message replaced it.

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ narrows his eyes, saying that you are very arrogant!]

‘He’s here.’

Chang-Sun’s eyes slightly widened. He knew that Celestial quite well.

‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ was Loki, a Celestial of lies and deception. He was also known as the king of <Niflheim, Bestla’s right hand, and Black Heaven, the north sky of the Nine Heavens. He also used to be Odin’s sworn brother, their differences had caused them to part ways and eventually oppose each other.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ quickly looks up, surprised by his father’s arrival!]

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ looks at his second son with loving eyes.]

...

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ wishes to ask you a question!]

Kill. You.

Managing to recover from the pain before Loki could proceed with his question, Ubbo-Sathla released powerful energy.

Rumble, rumble, rummmble!

Kieeeeh―!

Some of the flesh raining down from the spatial gap turned into tentacles or transformed into bizarre-looking monsters, descending to the ground in packs. The sight looked like it came straight out of the legendary Hyakki Yakko, the grotesque parade of tens of thousands of ghosts and yokai. Each one exuded powerful energy that could overpower most Celestials.

The most terrifying part about them was their <Darkness>, which was tainted and reeked unlike the pure <Darkness> that Chang-Sun had inherited from Mephistopheles. Those exposed to it screamed as it destroyed them. It also made the ground sink and fragmented some parts of the space.

Ubbo-Sathla created more and more monsters as the battle progressed. At this rate, the Dungeon would be overcrowded and irreversibly ruined in no time.

Kill. Kill. Kill. Eat.

“Twilight!!!” Bel-Marduk screamed. Even he seemed to be having trouble handling the monsters on his own.

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ solemnly asks you how it would benefit him if he joins your side!]

“A cure.” Chang-Sun smirked. “How does a cure for Angrboda sound?”

[The eyes of the Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ widens. He demands that you to tell him how in the world you know about that!]

“This isn’t the right time for that. Keep in mind that if the ‘Iron Forest’ gets destroyed, there will no longer be any cure. Now, what’s it going to be?”

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ purses his lips!]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ looks at his father!]

[The Celestial ‘Queen of Souls’ says...!]

[The Celestial ‘Celestial-Swallowing Wolf’ yells...!]

Messages from Loki, J?rmungandr, Hel, and Fenrir popped up one after another.

“What’s your decision?!” Bel-Marduk screamed louder.

Chang-Sun nonchalantly gestured at Bel-Marduk with his chin despite the imminent crisis they were in. “You heard him.”

He seemed ready to leave the Dungeon as soon as <Niflheim> rejected his offer.

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ dumbfoundedly grumbles and says that deception was supposed to be his specialty.]

[The Celestial ‘Lie-Whispering Giant’ is descending!]

Rummmmble―!

A lightning bolt flew past the monster parade, revealing a Giant so gargantuan that he could occupy the entire Dungeon. He made Chang-Sun’s Cataclysm Celestial and subordinates look like small dots.

The Giant Celestial stood up and extended his hand toward the spatial gap in the sky. His hands were so big that he could cover it with one and grab the monster pack with the other.

Loki, the Giant Celestial, clenched his fist.『You better keep your word. Dare deceive me, the Celestial of deception, and you won’t walk away unscathed.』

Rummmmble.

A thunderous explosion reverberated as the hordes of monsters burst. At the same time, Loki punched the spatial gap.

Baaaaam!