"Then let's put that to the test!"
Thor and Laufey stared at each other across the vast distance between them. Faint arcs of lightning emerged from Thor's eyes and danced across his body, crackling incessantly.
The Casket of Ancient Winters.
Ordinarily kept within Asgard's vault, it was an inconspicuous little box that seemed utterly unremarkable among the many treasures stored there.
Yet when placed in the right hands, the power it unleashed was enough to destroy all of Asgard with ease.
Laufey had no desire to waste words on Thor.
Although Thor's return had exceeded his expectations, Laufey regarded him as nothing more than a minor obstacle.
One he could sweep aside with a wave of his hand.
Without saying another word, Laufey gently raised the priceless treasure in his hands with the utmost care.
"Hum..."
The Casket of Ancient Winters began to glow.
It was as though a deathly white sun had risen over Asgard.
A pale light filled with lifeless cold instantly illuminated the darkened land. Visible waves of frigid air surged outward from the Casket of Ancient Winters, rapidly engulfing everything in every direction.
The moisture in the air froze at an astonishing speed. Thick layers of ice spread across the ground, and within moments, the Realm of the Gods had been swallowed by an endless expanse of white.
The lush forests, flowing rivers, the city that had already been reduced to ruins, and even the magnificent golden palace...
The cold spread with terrifying speed. Before the gods could react, it had already passed beyond the limits of their vision and was racing toward the farthest reaches of Asgard.
It would not be long before the entire floating continent was transformed into a frozen hell.
Aside from the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, no living creature would be able to survive here, not even the extraordinarily resilient Asgardians.
"Why did the cold suddenly intensify...?"
The faint spark of life hidden deep within Fenris's body remained perfectly concealed beneath the thick ice.
Laufey had already poured most of his power back into the Casket of Ancient Winters. He had neither the strength nor the attention to spare for a body that had seemingly lost every trace of life.
This sudden wave of extreme cold was even more powerful than the freezing energy that had previously invaded Fenris's body. Although Fenris had withdrawn his entire consciousness into the deepest recesses of his soul, he could still vaguely sense the drastic upheaval taking place outside.
"This is Laufey's power... So Asgard couldn't hold out after all?"
Fenris let out a quiet sigh.
It made sense. Loki, Asgard's new king, was cunning and deceitful. Although he had proven willing to sacrifice himself, he remained proud and arrogant to his core. His strength was also limited. With Fenris absent, Thor powerless, and Odin unable to act, Loki was clearly incapable of shouldering the burden of saving Asgard.
As for Thor, there was even less to say. He was only a mortal now, and whether he could even survive remained uncertain.
Thor's exile should have ended without much difficulty. Yet through a succession of coincidences and the intervention of powerful forces, it had somehow transformed into an apocalyptic disaster sweeping across all of Asgard, one that threatened to exterminate the Asgardian race entirely.
During the Sentry crisis, Fenris had warned himself time and time again not to judge this universe with familiar eyes or underestimate its dangers.
Even so, everything happening around him, with all its danger and unpredictability, continued to overturn his assumptions and exceed his understanding.
Was this disaster-plagued floating continent destined to fall before it could even reach Ragnarok?
Fenris glanced at the Titan Codex within the depths of his soul.
Brilliant light covered nearly the entirety of its fourth page. Less than twenty percent remained before the page could be completely opened.
"Wait for me..."
Outside, the gods were all trembling beneath the relentless cold.
The pervasive force had nearly stripped them of all their strength. What little power they had left was being consumed merely to withstand the bitter cold. As the Frost Giants pressed closer step by step, the gods had already lost any ability to resist.
Naturally, no one noticed the fragile spark of life hidden within the enormous ice sculpture, teetering on the verge of extinction.
"Bang!"
As the strongest among the gods, Thor did not hesitate to uphold the heavens of Asgard once more.
His conspicuous red cape appeared even more vivid against the endless white landscape. Thunderclouds hung low overhead as thunder boomed and lightning flashed without pause.
Every time Mjolnir swung, any Frost Giant who dared approach saw only a sudden flash of silver before overwhelming force descended upon them. Under Thor's merciless blows, their towering bodies were crushed, their bones and tendons shattered, and their lives extinguished.
The occasional fortunate survivor could only be dragged behind the lines by their comrades, where the power of the Casket of Ancient Winters slowly restored their injuries.
Laufey was fully occupied with channeling the artifact and had no attention to spare for anything else. Thor, fighting alone, had actually carved out a temporary safe zone for the gods.
"Thor..."
The gods stared at the Crown Prince standing before them.
He seemed like a completely different man from the reckless and impulsive prince they remembered. Their lips parted as they tried to persuade him to rest, but the endless ranks of Frost Giants charging toward them made it impossible to utter the words.
"Boom!"
Another thunderclap erupted.
After the raging lightning barely forced back the latest assault, Thor's flashing figure finally came to a halt.
He stood a short distance in front of Loki, gasping heavily for breath.
His armor and cape had lost all their former brilliance and order. Scale after scale had shattered, while his once-vivid cape had been torn into ugly strips.
Even with the gods desperately supporting him, Thor had spent so long single-handedly holding off the attacks of an entire legion that wounds now covered his entire body. His eyes were bloodshot, and the prolonged slaughter had nearly drowned his reason completely.
"Kill... Kill them..."
The lightning surrounding Thor gradually dimmed.
He raised his head, longing to charge into the sky and stop Laufey. Unfortunately, he remained trapped in the desperate battle below and could not divide his attention.
The moment he left, the frenzied Frost Giants would tear the gods apart.
All Thor could do was watch helplessly as the power of the Casket of Ancient Winters consumed Asgard piece by piece.
"Let's see who dares come any closer!"
With a furious roar, Thor raised Mjolnir once more. The lightning illuminated his blood-soaked face, making him appear savage and terrifying.
Just like Loki when he had been at death's door, Odin's other son now found himself trapped in the exact same desperate situation.
Yet even a fallen tiger retained its menace. The murderous intent and baleful aura radiating from Thor forced the elite warriors before him to retreat. For a time, none dared approach him carelessly.
"What are you afraid of? He's already a dead man."
At that moment, Laufey finally lowered the Casket of Ancient Winters. He released it, allowing the artifact to hover in the air and slowly rotate on its own.
"Do not fear him. He is no longer capable of changing anything."
"Kill!"
(End of Chapter)
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