As they entered Morigan's office, they found two young ladies already inside. Gorgeous and elegant, the pair smiled at Morigan as she shut the door and faced them curiously. "Illya? Chloe? What brings you here?"
"We got new orders to handle another Connection Point," Illya replied cheerfully. "We thought we'd stop by for a checkup before heading out."
"You could've just seen any medic if I wasn't around," Morrigan pointed out.
"But everyone knows you're the most skilled," Chloe grinned. "So do us a favor and take care of us too!"
"Oh, stop it! I'm just an ordinary doctor like the rest." Still, Morigan switched on her instruments and motioned to the beds. "Lie down so I can examine you."
The girls made themselves comfortable as she checked them over with various devices and spells. "All good, no hidden injuries that I can see."
Nodding, the girls stood up as she asked, "So which Connection Point will you be handling?"
"The North!" Illya replied brightly.
"Right, but no need to worry. It's only C rank," Chloe added. "Just a normal connection point."
"Don't say that. The depth level doesn't determine how difficult or powerful it is. You have to be real careful, okay?" She cautioned them.
"We know. Something similar happened to Gray last time, right? She got hit by some incurable curse and had to pull back. So we'll keep an eye out so the same doesn't happen to us."
Morrigan nodded. She then took out two white talismans and handed them to the girls.
Illya and Chloe took the talismans from her and glanced at them briefly before looking back up at her in unison. "What are these?"
"They're handmade protective charms!" She explained cheerfully. "I know they don't really do anything, but please keep them anyway as a token of goodwill from me."
"In that case, we'll gladly take them!" Chloe happily shook the talisman in her hand.
Illya frowned. "Chloe, mind your manners."
"Ugh, there goes Illya acting all high and mighty again," Chloe said, rolling her eyes. "Even though I'm actually the older sister here! Teehee! Not listening La la la!" She stuck out her tongue and dashed off, talisman in hand.
"Chloe!"
Illya was unable to stop her and could only watch helplessly as Chloe dashed off. She got off the bed, apologized to Morrigan and Hinako on Chloe's behalf, and then politely took her leave as well.
"They're both such good kids," Morrigan smiled.
"To think you'd even make that kind of charms..." There was a displeased tone in Hinako's voice.
"It was just a little whim of mine," Morrigan said lightly. Then she asked, "Could it be that Hinako doesn't like humans?"
"I don't like them at all," Hinako stated flatly.
"Not even a tiny bit?"
"Not a tiny bit."
Morrigan furrowed her brows, thinking to herself that she should still find ways for Hinako to interact more with others.
But how to go about it?
An idea popped into her mind - why not have Hinako mentor some newcomers? That could ease Hinako into spending more time around humans while allowing her to share her wisdom and experience. It was perfect! Now she just needed to convince Hinako...
...
A long cry rang out as the golden eagle Hræsvelgr transformed into a golden sphere, swooping low towards the Great Temple. The monsters along the way that tried to block its path were smashed into meat paste, killed instantly.
With a whoosh, Hræsvelgr passed through the temple's defensive barriers as if they were nothing, entering the temple itself.
Another cry sounded as Hræsvelgr flew to a giant eagle-shaped disc embedded into the mural behind Skadi.
Ortlinde stared in disbelief. "They actually managed to kill Hræsvelgr? Does this mean Hel has arrived for real?"
Before she could finish, a female voice rang out: "Of course I've come."
Hearing this, Ortlinde whipped her head around. Her eyes narrowed to pinpricks when she saw a woman shrouded in shadows entering the Great Temple through the front gate, holding a long black spear. The woman slowly walked past the army of abominations outside, which were being held back by the gods' defensive barriers.
Seeing the shadowy figure, Ortlinde felt a chill run down her limbs as cold sweat flowed down her face. "He...Hel!"
The name seemed to carry a thick aura of death, paralyzing Ortlinde where she stood.
The defensive barriers cast by the gods had woven layers upon layers of magical protections around the Great Temple, yet Hel strode through them as if entering her own courtyard, completely ignoring the barriers as she walked inside.
"How...how can this be?!" Ortlinde was extremely shocked. The Great Temple used to be the dwelling of the Allfather Odin, protected by incredibly powerful defensive barriers. Once activated, even the god of war would struggle to enter, as the spells could injure and overwhelm him.
Yet now, Hel had effortlessly strode into the temple, as if merely taking a stroll through her own garden!
How was this possible? It was too inconceivable. What on earth had happened in Asgard?
Hel walked slowly into the temple, her sharp eyes staring straight at Skadi, still asleep on her throne. She chuckled softly, "I've come, but you're still not waking up?"
Skadi didn't respond, remaining asleep.
The smile faded from Hel's face, her eyes narrowing like an eagle's as she gazed fixedly at Skadi. She then shifted her stance slightly, the black spear in her hand vibrating and glowing abyssally.
Seeing this, Ortlinde gritted her teeth, pushing past her fear of Hel. Clutching her spear, she stood before Hel and declared, "Even if you destroy this body, I won't let you take one more step!"
However, Hel didn't even glance at Ortlinde, her eyes locked on Skadi.
Clenching her teeth, Ortlinde spun the spear in her hand, aiming it at Hel, ready to attack. But in a flash, a spear stabbed violently through her chest from behind with a sickening crunch.
Blood sprayed everywhere!
Ortlinde lowered her head slightly to look at the familiar spear impaling her chest, then turned behind her, shock and disbelief on her face.
She said nothing, only sorrow in her eyes.
The one behind her was none other than Thrud, her own sister!
Thrud kept her head lowered, avoiding Ortlinde's gaze.
Only then did this scene of the betraying sisters cause Hel to glance over, the corners of her lips curling into a mocking, disdainful smile. "Now that's interesting."
Hel raised her head slightly to look at Skadi on her throne. "Your subordinate is about to die, yet you're still pretending to sleep, Skadi? No, Scathach?"
Skadi remained still and silent.
"No response? Hmph, no matter. My being here means your end is near!" Hel snorted coldly. She shifted into an attack stance, then hurled the glowing black spear in her hand towards the sleeping Skadi.
The black spear flew like lightning with a crack of thunder.
"Lady Skadi!" Ortlinde cried out, struggling to stand. Thrud swept Ortlinde's leg out from under her, toppling her to the ground again. Pointing her spear tip at Ortlinde, she said quietly, "Please don't make me do this, Sister."
Ortlinde looked sorrowfully at her sister.
No one could understand how she felt, betrayed by the last person she would have expected.
But she didn't ask why, because she already knew the answer.
Just as the black spear was about to pierce the sleeping Skadi, the divine spear Gungnir rang out with a clear chime, vibrating with a dazzling divine light. With a whoosh like a meteor, Gungnir shot towards the black spear.
The divine spears collided midair with a mighty clang, their powers pushed against each other, sending shockwaves that blasted open the floor around them.
The black spear struck by Gungnir spun through the air, returning to Hel's hand.
Gungnir floated before the still-sleeping Skadi.
Reaching out, Skadi gripped Gungnir's haft and slowly opened her eyes, the haziness clearing as her gaze settled on Hel.
"Finally awake, Scathach," Hel tightened her grip on her black spear despite having planned this confrontation.
"We meet again, Hel. But as I've said before, while I may resemble the Queen of Shadows, I am not her," she said evenly.
"Call yourself whatever you want. I'm here to end you," Hel stated.
"Your threats are as empty as Surtr's bad jokes," Skadi responded indifferently.
Hel's eyebrows drew together in displeasure.
Glancing sideways, Skadi's gaze landed on Thrud. After a brief silence she asked, "Can't endure it anymore?"
At her words, Thrud lowered her head further, clenching her jaw tight without answering.
"I heard your doubt. And my response is - I can endure another two thousand years, four thousand years, six thousand years... and forevermore." Skadi rose slowly from her throne as boundless mana radiated from the two sun-like discs embedded in the mural of creation behind her.
With two cracking sounds, the discs flew out like miniature suns, orbiting Skadi. Her wine-red eyes shifted gold as terrifying divinity surged from her body.
Boom boom...
Lightning, storms, snow - all manner of elemental chaos manifested around her, engulfing not just the Great Temple and Asgard, but the entire world. The skies across Midgard roiled as a thick blizzard veiled even the Black Ring above.
Hidden underground, Shirou, Salter and the others felt incredibly oppressed, all turning to stare towards the Great Temple.
The giants assaulting the gate also fled for cover.
In Muspelheim, a colossal fire giant gazed at the distant skies murmuring, "This feeling...Has Hel attacked Asgard? To actually force Skadi to unleash such terrifying divinity..."
In the inescapable prison, the Devil's Bodhisattva spying on Kiara tilted her head. "Oh my, the Queen is furious. How scary..."
She then rolled over to keep peeping at Kiara.
...
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