Episode 16/Chapter 3: Legend (3)

TL: Tsubak

ED: Ren

The Giant of the Night, Avalt, was inside the darkness. However, he could see several things at the same time.

One of the five commanders of the magician King, Utgard Loki.

That name wasn't low at all. It was a place a normal giant couldn't climb to at all.

Because of that, Avalt recognized his allies. Although each of them had their own defects, they were strong enough, even when taking those into account.

The Giant of Strength, Harad, disliked Avalt. And it was the same for Avalt. However, just like it was said previously, they recognized each other and they had a comrades.h.i.+p, even though it was weak.

Because of that, he was feeling regret.

'We were too rash.'

He knew what had caused that one big mistake. And the Magician king was not responding to it. It would be that he didn't tolerate two mistakes. He would have wanted to make some achievements, even when forcing it. Even though it was a compliment or a scolding, he must want the attention of the magician King.

The Giant of Strength, Harad, was strong. If an existence like him moved, Asgard wouldn't stay still. His existence could be felt from a distant place.

"So hurry up."

Finish it quickly. Retrieve the fragment of soul and return.

The Giant of Night, Avalt, spread the darkness. It hid the existence of the Giant of Strength when he descended to Asgard, even though it was by a small amount.

&

Heda climbed to the chest of a giant and then looked at her surroundings.

They had won the battle. She could arrive on time and defeat a giant, and the warriors of Valhalla defeated the monsters.

Siri had also performed well. After she had a short conversation with an inferior-ranked warrior of Thor's legion, she started to approach Heda.

She already knew the general situation. It was because she had overheard the conversation Siri and the inferior-ranked warrior had. The sensitive ears of a Valkyrie could differentiate several sounds ringing in the battlefield at the same time, one by one.

And the place Tae Ho went to would also be fine. Based on the words of the inferior-ranked warrior, the best forces had been gathered there. In addition, Ragnar was with them. Although he had retired because of a fatal injury, he was still someone that had once climbed to the top rank. He would be able to crush down ordinary danger.

That's why she was able to do it. She pressed down her anxiousness and it wouldn't be too late if she flew again along with Siri and the warriors.

But it was at that moment that Heda raised her head and knew. That was why she was shocked..

How?

How did an existence of that caliber-?

Siri became fl.u.s.tered at Heda's sudden change but then she wore the same expression. It was because she could also feel it. Even if one wasn't a Valkyrie that G.o.ds were dependent on, the uneasy aura could still be felt.. It felt like that strength was enough to cover the entire plains.

The warriors of Thor's legion turned to look at the same direction at the same time. They could also feel it now. Even if one was dull enough, they couldn't not know about it.

A storm was approaching. It could only be expressed that way..

"Tae Ho!"

Heda, who yelled like thunder, couldn't endure it anymore. She jumped up and transformed into a swan. Even before Siri could yell something towards her she had already flown up high.

Please, please, please!

Don't let Tae Ho be at that place. Let him be at a distant place just like Siri and the others!

Heda's wings started to move faster, and golden light started to s.h.i.+ne on the tips.

&

That had been a really sudden change.

The sky had been dyed in black, as if an eclipse had occurred.

The ground shook. The ground which was already devastated started to scream.

He could see it but he couldn't react. It seemed as if time had stopped.

A black meteorite fell to the ground. It was just like looking at a star falling down.

There was no sound. Nor an explosion.

It just existed there on the ground.

Giant.

The one that looked down at everything and the ones that were as proud as the sky.

It was a black and red giant.

It was really tall. It seemed to be the same size as the giant that had appeared in Black Fortress.

However, they weren't the same.

Different from the lowest-ranked giant, which seemed to have been made by gathering rocks, it couldn't be compared to the complete giant in front of them. It was a workpiece made to have a shape that could exert the most strength, and the most battling one.

Its shoulders were broad and its arms were hard. The muscles that showed from beneath the black and red armor resembled metal.

His eyes were burning from between the helmet, which had no decorations or symbol.

The Giant of Strength, Harad. One of the fingers of the magician King.

Thor's legion, that was running to that side, stopped in their tracks. They couldn't charge forward anymore. They could only stare, as if they were looking at a fierce storm.

And that was lucky for them.

Because they couldn't reach the battlefield. Because they could distance themselves a bit more from the giant.

The giant swung his arm. It was a light movement. However, the ground and the sky shook with just that. What exactly it did couldn't be grasped, but the result was in front of them.

Tanngnjostr disappeared.

Precisely speaking, it broke into pieces and was scattered. The warriors riding it disappeared along with it without even being able to scream.

Bracky couldn't breathe. He couldn't even feel that he was out of breath.

Just what had happened?

What was the existence in front of their eyes?

The giant looked at Bracky and swung his arms again. Bracky couldn't move. It was the same for Rolo and Tae Ho.

The battlefield had stopped excluding the giant.

Bracky was fated to disappear just like the Tanngnjostr.

If only he wasn't in this place.

There was no sound.

However, the ground split up. The strength of the arm that was swung by the giant got offset and was dispersed.

When everyone had stopped, he moved. He stood in front of Bracky and swung his sword.

The crack had been made like that.

Bracky could finally breathe. Rolo, which was falling from the sky without strength, also got a hold of itself and started to flutter its wings. Tae Ho also breathed roughly and looked at the one that stood up against the giant.

"Ragnar Lodbrok."

The Giant of Strength, Harad, spoke. Ragnar smiled faintly.

"You are crazy. For you to come here yourself!"

"You have fallen down."

The Giant of Strength recognized Ragnar. It was impossible to not recognize the top-ranked warrior that had battled in the Great War and there was also his legend in his times as a Viking.

That's why he couldn't act, even though time was precious right now. He put on a smile that had joy and compa.s.sion behind it.

Ragnar Lodbrok had fallen. He was too weak. In addition, Tae Ho and Bracky didn't know, but Harad did.

Ragnar was now at his limit. Even though he had merely faced inferior giants, he was already exhausted.

He did have the strength, but he couldn't display it properly.

That was the reason why Ragnar could only retire.

'There's no time.'

Ragnar and Harad thought the same thing.

However, the meaning was different.

Harad needed to hurry. And Ragnar had to extend this confrontation for as long as possible.

The two exchanged glances. Ragnar and Harad laughed together and moved at the same time.

Bang!

Harad's fist hit down the hog, and he hog was extinguished at his attack. Its leather and muscles burnt down and Garm's soul fragment also disappeared, as if it had evaporated. The fragment that was stuck on its head rolled on the ground.

Ragnar swung his sword. Although he was at a distance that wouldn't reach the giant, it did. The force which could only be expressed as a sword slash, aimed for the arm of the giant and prevented him from picking up the fragment.

"Run." Ragnar smiled bitterly and said. Harad swung his fist once again as Bracky couldn't react.

The ground exploded. The monsters near it got swept up with just the wind generated.

Ragnar picked up Bracky, who was standing dumbfoundedly instead of resisting and started to run. He entrusted his body to the wind.

And the giant started to chase Ragnar. The chasing speed coming from its huge body was amazing.

"Ragnar Lodbrok!"

He had fallen. He had already retired. But his head still had value. The legendary head of the Viking King could become the best offering to the magician King.

Harad's fist hit the air again. Bracky got ahold of himself at the feeling that a huge hail was approaching.

Actually, Ragnar wasn't that different. However, he rolled his body instead of breaking down at the hail. He tried to create some distance while riding in the wind.

Ragnar surged high into the sky. Harad glared at the sky, and the monsters that were unable to breathe properly fell to the ground. And Rolo fluttered its wings while it began to lose consciousness.

"Ragnar!"

It was Tae Ho. He controlled Rolo with the 'One That Handles Dragons'. He made Rolo fly up forcefully and tried to grab Ragnar.

Tae Ho extended his hand. Ragnar looked at his hand and then looked at Tae Ho's face. He was smirking, even though it was a serious situation.

"You really are extraordinary."

At the very least, Sigurd.

He wasn't someone that should die in this place. He couldn't die.

"Flee." Ragnar spoke again. He threw Bracky instead of grabbing his hand. Tae Ho stumbled while grabbing Bracky reflexively and then hit his chest lightly.

"Ragnar!" Tae Ho yelled again. Ragnar smiled and turned back. He threw himself towards Harad, just like Tae Ho could do.

He would save Tae Ho and Bracky.

He would also stop the giant from taking the fragment of a soul.

And he would buy as much time as he could.

Harad swung his fist once again towards Ragnar. It was different from the ones until now.

There was a strong force behind the wind. This time it could really be said that the hail could destroy everything.

Ragnar breathed out. He swung his sword, trying to find an opening in the hail. And then he pa.s.sed through it like a lie and landed on the ground as if he was dancing.

How much could he endure? How many more breaths did he have?

Harad used a greater strength. His underlings started to descend from the sky.

Just what the h.e.l.l was happening when he had just come to catch a gryphon?

Ragnar opened his lips and then whispered while storing the strength of magic. He told Tae Ho, who didn't flee even though he was told to do so.

It was the first thing Tae Ho asked when they first started with the cla.s.ses.

If the intermediate rank is the stage where you handle the Strength of a G.o.d, what did you do at the superior and top rank?

It was still too early.

Even more than he thought.

But the situation was special. It wasn't the time to be saving it.

"I will teach you."

The strength of a superior-ranked warrior.

The new boundary he would have to face then.

Harad's strength had become the best. The fire that was covering his entire body made him look like a G.o.d of Fire.

And Ragnar raised his sword against Harad. He used the white Strength of a G.o.d, the strength of the King of G.o.ds, Odin.

'The inferior rank is the process to reach the intermediate rank.'

It was also the same for the intermediate rank. It was all to reach the superior rank.

It didn't only stop in inserting the Strength of a G.o.d in your weapon. It even surpa.s.sed the level of holding it in your body.

The origin of the strength of the warriors of Valhalla was their saga.

They added the Strength of a G.o.d to their stories.

Led their sagas to a higher place.

'Pa.s.sing through the anecdotes.'

Surpa.s.sing the legend to finally reach the myth.

[Mythology Ranked Saga]

[King of Vikings: Ragnar Lodbrok]

On top of the destroyed land, on the traces of the Great War, another myth began.

< episode="" 16="" -="" legend="" (3)=""> End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 16/Chapter 4: Legend (4)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

He was an exalted king.

He was a brave navigator that had sailed to seas no one had ever dared to,

and had never been defeated once until Odin called him.

People remembered him.

And those people transmitted his name to the generation to come.

The start of the vikings.

The king of all vikings.

He carried a big and round s.h.i.+eld in his back. And held the viking sword Ulfberht with a hand.

The blue and red pigments painting his face made him look more flashy.

Ragnar took a deep breath. The cold air reaching his lungs made his head clear.

His eyes resembling a wolf that held mysteriousness and madness flashed. A face was drawn in his face.

He the one that was an explorer, plunderer, warrior, king, navigator, farmer and a strategist.

The image people believed in, imagined and remembered became one and created the first and most powerful viking. The current Ragnar was an existence like that.

It has been a really long while. Nearly a hundred years. It was the first time after the Great War.

The giant of strength Harad s.h.i.+vered and then smiled. Although he had come to this battlefield as if being chased with anxiousness, he was still a warrior. Now that he was facing a Great warrior, he had also become a Great warrior.

Red and black fire surged up from Harad's body. The him that was behind his fist was difficult to imagine.

"d.a.m.ned."

Ragnar cursed like a joke. It seemed like he looked at another place for a moment and then charged forward.

"Ragnar!"

Harad laughed freshly and punched. Ragnar also swung his sword.

And at that moment Tae Ho could know why this battle had reached the boundary of mythology.

Kwagagagagang~!

An earthquake shook. The ground split tens and hundreds of times with the epicenter at the center. The monsters that were near it got swept up and got shredded. This wasn't a fight between individuals anymore. They would have to rewrite the map because of this one attack.

The aftershock of the attack also affected the air. Rolo, that had lost consciousness for a moment, let out a cry but then regained consciousness. It got pushed back because of the rash wind.

Ragnar cursed while being inside the big dust cloud that arose. The clash just now wasn't simply an exchange of a fist and a sword. It was a compet.i.tion of complicated and mysterious techniques that had the essences of the both of them melted in it.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A loud sound exploded in consecution. The fist of the giant of strength were able to shake the ground and sky. Just looking at strength, he was the best among the five fingers of the magician king.

Ragnar was small and he was big. However this wasn't a problem anymore. Harad's fists were precise and Ragnar dodged Harad's attacks with his senses that were as sharp as a sword. He fended off his fists with the viking sword and at the same time threw the axe he had taken out.

It was small but strong. Not even Harad could see the meteor like attack easily. The axe that had grazed Harad's waist split the ground with a white light. Smoke surged up from Harad's waist instead of blood.

Merely 10 seconds. However after the battle that was enough to kill thousands of people Ragnar let out a curse. He had already reached his limit. He didn't even have the strength to use the small stories inside the big ones.

It was really awful. He just had to stall for time but he couldn't even do that. The only way was to win with one attack.

'One sword.'

Ragnar distanced himself from Harad. It was a really short interval but it was enough with that. Ragnar prepared the best attack he could execute now.

But Harad also felt that. It was a terrifying thing. Even though he had fallen he was still the viking king. Even though the attack Ragnar was preparing wasn't executed, it still made Harad really nervous.

Because of that Harad moved faster. He remembered the fact that Ragnar wasn't a simple warrior but a king and then attacked.

What he fired was red and black fireb.a.l.l.s. And the strong wind that was like a hail was added onto that.

It wasn't towards Ragnar.

Thor's legion.

The small existences that were overwhelmed at the mythical scene that was occurring in front of them and at Harad's appearance.

It was also a gamble for Harad.

If Ragnar ignored his attack, he wouldn't be able to dodge a fatal wound because his defenses were low for having executed the earlier attack.

Ragnar moved and Harad smiled.

The black fireb.a.l.l.s got cut off. The hail like wind got split in two and scattered.

The warriors of Thor's legion realized instinctively that death had just pa.s.sed in front of their eyes. Ragnar was standing in front of them while holding the viking sword Ulfberht.

Ragnar couldn't ignore them. Because he was the Viking king. He was someone that led warriors.

Ragnar closed his eyes and forced a laugh. His strength left his body. His mythical ranked saga was leaving his body.

'd.a.m.n it.'

He couldn't beat Harad. Although he had spent quite a lot of strength, that was all.

If he had chosen to attack instead of defending.

Ragnar threw away his regrets. He saw Harad that was rus.h.i.+ng at him. He looked at him extending his fist while laughing and said as if lamenting.

"I told you to flee."

Ragnar's eyes moved to the sky. At that moment Harad could know.

Harad's eyes moved upwards. It was also to the sky. He saw the thing that was falling down towards him from the sky.

Harad swung his hands. The black fire became raging billows and covered the sky. However the arrow coming from the sky didn't stop.

"Hu! Ah! Hu! Ah!"

Bracky breathed out weirdly. It was a method he had come up to not get buried by the myth in front of his eyes.

The raging billow covered them. Just a normal billow was terrifying enough, but this one was made of fire. But they couldn't dodge it. They had to overcome it just like they did so for a storm.

[Saga: He's the son of a G.o.d]

[Saga: Thunder gets immersed in his hammer]

Bracky jumped down from Rolo. He charged into the raging billow and swung his hammer that had thunder in it.

The thunder opened a path. Although it merely split it for a moment, it was enough with that.

"Go!"

Bracky fell and yelled. Rolo pa.s.sed through the path of flames along with Tae Ho.

[Saga: Charge of the dragon]

Harad stopped his charge and stepped on the ground. And then he extended his fist.

It was an attack that could split the sky in two. It was impossible to face him head on.

'Just like I expected!'

Tae Ho jumped down from Rolo. Rolo drew a sharp trajectory like planned and moved to Ragnar and Tae Ho twisted his body in the air.

"Chant!"

He fluttered his wings after having transformed into a hawk. He pa.s.sed over Harad's fist that was covered in flames and that made him think that he was riding on a wall.

It was hot. No, he felt like dying. He felt like Tae Ho's existence was getting crushed just by being close to him.

But he had to endure it. He activated the strength of a G.o.d. Idun's power covered Tae Ho's body. Heda's blessing that remained in his forehead protected him.

Tae Ho fluttered his wings again and flew. Rolo was being controlled by Ragnar. Bracky fell to the ground after having become a mess and then Tae Ho realized.

They couldn't escape.

Dodging Harad was impossible now. Harad had already pulled his fist back. Even if he flew up like this, he would only get crushed by his fist.

'Heda.'

He got some strength just by thinking of that name. Tae Ho cursed himself saying that he was crazy and charged forward. Whether he became porridge or rice, he could only attack now.

"Chant!"

He yelled and transformed to a human again. He could feel Harad's eyes chasing him back. Tae Ho ground his teeth and activated the strength of his saga.

[Saga: Immortal warrior]

[Saga: The charge of a warrior is like a storm]

He gripped the Sword piece. He tried to kick the air while being followed by a thunderstorm.

Right then.

When he was about to yell Heda's name for the last time.

'I will help you.'

Gae Bolg's piece, that was in his waist, moved. It entered Tae Ho's hand by its own.

It wasn't the time to understand it with his head. Tae Ho grabbed the piece of Gae Bolg tightly. At that moment, white light started to be emanated from the piece.

s.h.i.+ning spear.

The incomplete thing was certainly Gae Bolg.

Tae Ho could feel Cu Chulainn. Perhaps it may only be playing his memories again. However he could know. What he had to do and how he should use Gae Bolg!

He kicked the air. He threw himself to the ground and fired Gae Bolg with all his might.

He felt like his left arm might explode. Gae Bolg emanated a strong light.

Bang!

Gae Bolg hit Harad's right shoulder. The strong force of destruction that was inserted by Scathach, the queen of the land of shadows, was activated. A white light started to s.h.i.+ne in the shoulder that it had hit and gulped down the black fire.

Ragnar opened his eyes widely. And Harad was also shocked. Tae Ho cheered in the middle of his pain.

But it only lasted for a moment.

Harad teared off his shoulder. He had cut it down with his left hand. He got rid of the force of destruction along with his right arm and then gritted his teeth and laughed.

A fierce fire surged up. Tae Ho couldn't listen the sound made when Harad's right arm fell. Ragnar's yell and Bracky's despair also didn't reach him.

Tae Ho, that got bounced back, rolled on the ground. The bones of all his body got crushed. He coughed out blood while laying on the ground. His left arm that he had used to throw Gae Bolg didn't move, and he couldn't even feel it.

Tae Ho rolled his eyes while being absent minded. It seemed like veins had exploded that his vision was red. He could see Harad approaching him.

'Heda.'

His lips didn't move. He felt like Idun's blessing was barely holding onto his life.

It was the same as Black Fortress. No, it was worse than that. He didn't even have a piece of a golden apple now.

Harad clenched his fist.

&

Heda breathed roughly. Sweat flowed down like rain. Idun's blessing had activated from a place not that far away. There was only one person in this land that could activate Idun's blessing.

'No, no.'

It was the first time since that day.

He couldn't repeat what happened on that day.

Heda turned back to a Valkyrie from a swan. Rather than cursing at her immature self, she tried to bring out a greater strength.

But right at that moment.

Heda turned back reflexively. She started to let out tears of joy unconsciously.

&

Ragnar ground his teeth. Even though it was hard to even stand, he was raising his sword.

Because he couldn't let him die in this place.

He wasn't someone to die here.

He opened his mouth to try to get its attention for even a moment. He was even planning to tell him to kill him first.

But then Ragnar saw. He laughed pleasingly with his mouth that was about to yell angrily.

&

Harad though in the middle of his strong pain. He had to kill him. It wasn't because he had inflicted a wound as big as this.

He didn't know into what he would turn. He didn't know how Gae Bolg had appeared or how he could use it but he had to finish him here. Perhaps, it may be more important to do than killing the already broken Ragnar.

The unknown warrior.

He was covered in a golden light as he was dying. He was sure that the blessing of a G.o.d was holding on to his life.

He would kill him. He would remove a root that would be a calamity in the future.

But right before he swung his fist.

Harad turned to look back.

&

Tae Ho vomited black blood. Idun's blessing took care of him. Heda's blessing was trying to extend his life however it could.

[Saga: Immortal warrior]

Tae Ho opened his eyes again. His vision was still blurry. However he could vaguely hear through his ears.

Tae Ho Understood.

Why Harad hadn't finished him off. And why Bracky was cheering like that.

In a distant place.

Where Heda was supposed to be.

The sound of thunder was approaching.

< episode="" 16="" -="" legend="" (4)=""> End

TL note: Thanks for reading~