Shirou found himself genuinely interested in how the dream would end. It was like watching a TV show or reading a novel; wanting to know the conclusion was just human nature. Unfortunately, the current conditions didn't allow Shirou to sleep peacefully and dream as a spectator. With Skadi overthrown and the frozen ice that sealed countless dangerous magical creatures starting to melt, not to mention the fire giants who'd been preparing to invade for over two thousand years were now attacking in hordes. For the humans living in this world, it wasn't a friendly and hospitable place anymore.
After some discussion, Sigurd decided to take the villagers from the border to the inland. Compared to the already invaded border, the inland seemed relatively safer. However, Shirou knew in his heart that the inland wasn't really safe either. The impact of Skadi's overthrow was far-reaching. The dangers weren't limited to the fire giants outside the wall; they also included the magical beasts that were gradually awakening within the wall.
Shirou wanted to do something about this Connection Point. However, before breaking Skadi out of prison, he couldn't show his hand and blatantly betray Hel.
Skadi was the key to this connection point. She knew the secret behind the gods' disappearance more than two thousand years ago and possessed the council's Black Grail. Moreover, she looked just like Scathach. So, both emotionally and rationally, he had to get Skadi out of prison.
In fact, when Hel launched her invasion, he had the opportunity to save Skadi. However, at that time, Hel had everything in Asgard under control in no time since she'd been planning the whole thing for hundreds of years, so she definitely had the advantage and initiative. The hope of success was too slim, and the probability of getting killed if he failed was too high. After considering it, Shirou didn't act rashly. Instead, he naturally became Hel's subordinate and cooperated with Adam in secret, while plotting in the background.
Now, amid the giants invasion, Shirou and Sigurd rebelled against Hel's orders and stubbornly resisted. This was sure to enrage Hel and make her very suspicious of Shirou, but that was exactly the point. It was precisely because of this that Adam's small actions would proceed more smoothly. Wasn't this a matter of course? After all, the brighter the light, the deeper the shadows.
Sitting in the carriage, Shirou closed his eyes slightly and used the black mud to enter the Black Network he'd created to contact Adam.
Shirou: "Adam, How's it going?"
"The two Valkyrie ladies have been smoothly planted in prison, Mr. Assassin," Adam replied quickly.
"What about Hel?"
"As for Hel, nothing strange has been happening. But she's been in a really foul mood lately. Oh right, she also got in touch with Surtr, that fire giant. It seems like talking to him is what got her so angry in the first place."
"Interesting. So, did Hel pull back her troops and let the giants invade her territory because of some deal she made with Surtr? But why would Hel, who managed to overthrow Skadi, agree to something like that? Is she actually afraid of Surtr?"
"I'm not sure about that either. But I did overhear something. Surtr was apparently taunting Hel, saying she had obtained four wheels and was now the strongest in this world."
Shirou's brow furrowed. The Valkyrie had mentioned something about this when he first arrived in Asgard. It seemed to be some ancient relic, similar to the one that was left behind after he killed the black dragon Nidhogg.
Of course, that particular relic had already been swallowed up by Shirou's invisible vortex and transformed into a massive amount of mana. But why were Hel and Surtr talking about this now?
Shirou had a gut feeling that this was the key to everything. "Adam, would you mind looking into the specifics of the wheels Hel has? I'd appreciate any details you can find."
"Understood, Mr. Assassin. I'll do my best to gather that information."
"Thanks, Adam. You're really dependable. But remember, your safety comes first. We still need to get my body back home together, with you in one piece."
"Mm."
After the brief exchange of information, Shirou logged out of the Black Network. He had to admit, the black mud was incredibly convenient and reliable. Why would the Shirou in that dream even consider destroying it? Really, he sighed, shaking his head at the thought.
Without All the World's Evil, relying on himself alone, he wouldn't have even survived the Fourth Holy Grail War, let alone faced terrifying enemies like the Crimson Moon and Vortigern.
At that moment, the advancing soldiers suddenly came to a halt. Shirou jumped out of the carriage and made his way to Sigurd, who was at the very front of the line. "What's going on?"
Sigurd's expression was grim as he stretched out his hand, pointing ahead. Shirou followed his gaze, his own brows knitting together at the sight.
In the snowy ground not far away, a group of fish-like magical beasts wielding steel forks wandered around, their movements sluggish and disoriented. These creatures had just broken free from a two-thousand-year-old ice seal, and their first instinct upon awakening was to satisfy their hunger.
At that moment, these fish monsters were gnawing on food, their sharp teeth tearing into flesh. And that so-called food was none other than their own kind, the weaker members of their species who had the misfortune of being caught in the frenzy.
With red eyes gleaming, they used their steel forks to mercilessly kill their weaker kin, showing no hesitation or remorse. Then, they opened their mouths wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and chomped down on the flesh of their own, completely ignoring the wails and twitching nerves of their victims. The sound of crunching and slurping mixed with the metallic clang of forks, creating a gruesome symphony that echoed across the frozen landscape. It was a scene of pure savagery and brutality, a testament to the vicious nature of these fish monsters.
Reeking of blood and gore, their scales and forks dripping with the remains of their cannibalistic feast, they finally noticed Shirou and the others standing there, observing the gruesome display. With a hungry glint in their eyes, they slowly turned their attention towards the newcomers, their steel forks gripped tightly in anticipation of fresh prey.
They dropped the mangled remains of their kin, their eyes gleaming with a greasy, hungry light. Gripping their steel forks tightly, they charged at Shirou's group, their movements erratic and clumsy, but driven by an insatiable desire to make them their next meal.
There weren't many of them, only about three hundred or so, but they attacked Shirou and his companions in unison, their forks raised high in the air, ready to strike. However, having just been freed from their frozen state, their nerves were still numb, and their reactions were sluggish.
Moreover, years of starvation had left this group generally sallow and sickly, their bodies weak and malnourished. They were a far cry from the predators they might have once been, and their current state made them easy targets for Shirou and his soldiers.
But there was no need for Shirou to even take action, as his well-trained soldiers were more than capable of handling the situation. Even with nothing more than knives or their bare hands, the soldiers easily overpowered the fish monsters, their superior strength and agility allowing them to dodge the clumsy strikes of the forks and deliver quick, precise blows in return. The sound of steel against flesh and the cries of the dying fish monsters filled the air as his soldiers made short work of the attackers, their bodies falling one by one onto the blood-stained snow.
But this outcome didn't put Shirou and the others at ease. In just a short while, they had already run into a group of magical beasts. This meant that the snow was melting faster than they had anticipated. Perhaps Hel had a hand in this. After all, she had always been looking forward to spring, and overthrowing Skadi was part of her plan to bring it about. No one would believe that she wasn't involved in this somehow.
Now, the situation was getting quite dangerous. The fire giants had already launched a full-scale invasion, and Hel had given up resistance, not even trying to defend her territory against them. Within the walls, the once ferocious magical beasts would also be awakening from their long slumber, their stomachs growling with hunger. They were even willing to eat their own kind, let alone humans. This world was like the layer of snow on the ground - chilling to the bone.
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