Journey to Helheim

Rising majestically into the clouds, as if touching the towering mountains that reached the sky, Vortigern, clad in white armor, slowly opened his eyes. His gleaming golden vertical pupils exuded an unfeeling coldness.

"So, you've finally come..." Vortigern muttered to no one.

"Are you talking about the new king of Camelot?" Crimson Moon, in her usual long white dress, asked from the side.

Vortigern nodded slightly.

"The wars at Hadrian's Wall didn't manage to hold him back after all. Since the opportunity has presented itself, let's keep him here forever."

"But, aren't you worried about the one behind him...?" Crimson Moon hesitated.

"I've already separated this place from the outside world. Even if someone is truly backing him, they won't be able to interfere anytime soon." Vortigern said casually. "After dealing with the matters at hand, I'll pay him a visit."

"Hope my nephew won't be too surprised when he meets his uncle..." Vortigern added with a cold tone.

===

"Teacher, where are we now?" Artoria looked around, curiosity in her eyes, as she inquired.

As Merlin's student, she was well-versed in Norse mythology.

Legend had it that the Norse Cosmology was divided into nine realms, supported by the World Tree, Yggdrasil. It originated in the 'past', thrived in the 'present', and extended into the boundless 'future'.

Its leaves were said to be forever green, its branches bearing the weight of the entire universe, and its roots penetrating the entire world.

'Given this barren scene, we should be in Nidavellir, the realm of the Dwarves, or Jotunheim, the land of the Giants.' Artoria said inwardly as she surveyed the desolate landscape. 

"This is... Asgard." Arkhan finally spoke.

Artoria widened her eyes in astonishment. She glanced at the gloomy sky above and the barren land beneath, finding it hard to believe that this was the magnificent realm belonging to the Aesir gods.

"Alright, stop thinking too much." Arkhan walked forward, gently patting her head. "Let's go."

Artoria nodded obediently.

"Teacher, where are we heading next?"

"We're going to..." Arkhan gazed towards the distant horizon. "Helheim."

According to Norse mythology, the Dragon of Despair, Nidhogg, resided year-round in the lower layers of Yggdrasil, which was the legendary realm of the dead—Helheim.

Arkhan wrote Primordial Rune in the air, attempting to open a portal directly to Helheim. Suddenly, he felt a strange force blocking him.

This force, unlike the power seemingly controlled by Vortigern, exuded a colder, more ancient aura, specifically designed to resist Primordial Rune.

"This is a rule set by Hela to counter Odin." Nidhogg sighed. "Even when Odin was alive, he couldn't break through it."

Arkhan frowned. "After all this time, the rule still exists?"

"Although Hela is a lunatic, she is the queen of the underworld. She established this rule based on the underworld, meaning as long as Helheim exists, the rule will never vanish." Nidhogg explained.

"Then, how do we get there now?"

Asgard was at the top of Yggdrasil, while Helheim was at the bottom. Walking there directly would take an eternity.

"The Rainbow Bridge—Bifrost." Nidhogg replied without hesitation. "Through Bifrost, we can reach Helheim."

Arkhan paused for a moment. Bifrost was indeed a landmark in Norse mythology, and was also known as 'the swaying road to heaven'. It was said that the Aesir gods would convene near the Well of Urdr next to Yggdrasil every day, walking along Bifrost.

"Bifrost is Yggdrasil's vein, connecting to any location in the nine realms. If Hela were still alive, maybe she could have intercepted us, but now that she's gone, no one can stop us." Nidhogg explained.

"But if I remember correctly, hasn't Bifrost been destroyed by the Giants?" Arkhan asked with a puzzled tone.

"How could Bifrost be so easily destroyed?" Nidhogg scoffed. "As I just said, Bifrost is Yggdrasil's vein. As long as enough life energy is infused into it, it can regenerate on its own. Your lance should be able to do that, no?"

Arkhan's eyes brightened a bit. Using the power of Abyss Flower to restore Yggdrasil was impossible, but if it was just its vein, that was still manageable.

Just as he was about to tell Artoria about this, the sky above them suddenly darkened.

Arkhan and Artoria instinctively looked up and saw a massive eagle, resembling a dragon, diving towards them. Its golden eyes glowed with a crazed fierceness, and its feathered body exuded a metallic sheen, carrying a sinister appearance.

Clearly, this was a Phantasmal Species far surpassing the Chimera!

Artoria's expression turned serious. She summoned Excalibur instantly, but before she could make a move, over a dozen golden spears with long chains attached whizzed toward the eagle.

*Squawk!*

The eagle let out a fierce cry as its razor-sharp claws swiped at the golden spears.

Being the king of the sky, it wouldn't be afraid of these small things that weren't even the size of its nails, right?

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*

The golden spears pierced through the eagle's body, and a burst of blood mist erupted. The feathers, tougher than bronze, seemed fragile before these spears.

Panic filled the eagle's eyes. It frantically flapped its wings, but the golden spears, like nails, were firmly embedded, impossible to shake off.

*Rattling—*

The golden chains trailing behind the spears seemed to come to life, entwining the eagle's wings. It struggled, feeling as if it carried a mountain on its back, unable to summon any strength.

*BOOM!*

The eagle plummeted from the sky, creating a massive crater upon impact. Dust billowed into the air.

*Swish!*

Artoria used the Invisible Air to disperse the dust, revealing the barely alive eagle in the center of the pit. She glanced at it and then at her teacher, who stood by nonchalantly, and a faint sadness crossed her azure eyes.

A creature that posed a challenge to her was rendered powerless in the hands of her teacher.

The gap between them was growing.

Arkhan calmly approached the eagle, while his palm ignited with ominous black flames. As if sensing something terrifying, the eagle trembled violently.

"Don't be afraid; it'll only hurt a bit."

Arkhan wore an innocent smile as he reached out, pressing his black-flamed hand against the eagle's forehead.

The eagle emitted a weak cry, and its once golden eyes were gradually replaced by darkness, giving it an eerie appearance.

After Jizo Mitama's power completely consumed the eagle, Arkhan withdrew his hand. He retracted all the chains entwining the eagle and, utilizing Abyss Flower's power, healed all the wounds on its body.

The eagle flapped its wings, stood up again, and nuzzled him affectionately as if it were a pet.

Arkhan patted the eagle's head and turned to Artoria.

"Looks like the journey ahead might be a bit easier now."

===

Above the hazy cloud layer, a colossal eagle, reminiscent of a giant dragon, flapped its wings, obscuring the sky and sun. With each beat of its wings, it effortlessly traversed hundreds of miles, darting toward the horizon like lightning.

'Having a mount is indeed convenient.' Arkhan lay comfortably on the eagle's back, casually remarking inwardly. 'It's been a long time since I've felt this relaxed...'

Since ascending to the throne, he had been dealing with an overwhelming amount of affairs every day. There was hardly a moment for rest. In the most arduous times, he could only manage two hours of sleep a day before returning to his desk, diving back into the demanding workload.

He could barely recall the last time he lay somewhere so casually, not thinking about anything. Was it in the Land of Shadows? Tintagel? Or... Lucanmont...?

The scene before him slowly blurred, and his consciousness felt like it was sinking into the sea, gradually falling silent.

Suddenly, Artoria heard a rhythmic breathing beside her. Turning, she saw her teacher with his eyes closed, deep in sleep.

She cautiously approached and her azure eyes showed hesitation for a moment.

"Teacher...?" Artoria softly called Arkhan.

No response.

She gently shook his arm.

Still no response.

Biting her lip, she removed her armor, then sat down, gently lifting her teacher's head and placing it on her lap.

Having done all this, she nervously glanced at his face. Seeing that he was still peacefully asleep, she breathed a sigh of relief.

She gently stroked the black hair between his eyes, gazing at his tranquil sleeping face. Tenderness and affection filled her eyes.

For some reason, her face suddenly became even redder.

"If I miss this chance, there won't be another..." Artoria murmured softly.

She bit her lip, closed her eyes, lowered her head, and lightly kissed her teacher's cheek. Afterward, she quickly lifted her head in panic.

Though it was just a simple kiss, Artoria seemed as if she had just been through a fierce battle.

She breathed heavily, her shapely chest rising and falling slightly. Her charming face was adorned with a rosy blush, and her clear azure eyes showed evident shyness and bashfulness.

Artoria lightly traced her lips with her fingers, a sweet smile playing on her lips.

Since the end of Ragnarok, the moment this lost divine realm plunged into the crevice of the world, it lost the concept of time. The rules of day and night had long been shattered, leaving only the sky, as heavy as the rock, perpetually shrouding this place.

After an unknown amount of time, Arkhan finally woke from his dreams.

'Hahh... haven't slept this comfortably in ages.'

Arkhan thought with content. As he prepared to stretch, he noticed something was off.

'Why does it feel like the pillow is so soft... and what's with this familiar fragrance?'

Perplexed, he opened his eyes in haste and found a peacefully sleeping face.

'What?!'

As if a lightning bolt had struck, Arkhan's mind instantly became a jumble.

'Why... Why the heck am I sleeping on Lily's thighs?'

Arkhan discreetly swallowed, inching his body bit by bit, intending to escape the 'crime scene' before Artoria woke up.

However, at this moment, the deeply sleeping Artoria could no longer maintain the upright and alert posture from earlier. Due to the force of inertia, her upper body involuntarily leaned forward.

Arkhan's eyes widened in instant terror.

"Wait—"

Before he could finish his sentence, his head was engulfed between two soft and ample mounds. The fragrance wafting from her instantly intensified.

"Mmm..."

Feeling an unfamiliar sensation, Artoria slightly furrowed her smooth brows. Groggily, she slowly opened her bright, azure eyes, lowered her head, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

'Oh no, overslept!' Artoria thought in panic and quickly raised her upper body while anxiously asking, "Teacher, are you okay?!"

Gradually recovering from the soft impact just now, Arkhan suddenly shook his head, reflexively standing up.

The two stared at each other, neither knowing what to say, creating an exceptionally awkward atmosphere.

"Uh... Lily... if I remember correctly, I shouldn't have slept on your legs before, right?" Arkhan awkwardly scratched his head, breaking the silence.

Artoria shifted her gaze guiltily to the side.

"I just... wanted Teacher to sleep more comfortably."

"Ahem... So that's how it is..." Arkhan cleared his throat, stabilizing his emotions with the power of Fenghuang Down, and smiled. "Indeed, Lily is a very understanding girl."

"I... I just did what a student should do..." Artoria's voice was as soft as a mosquito.

Arkhan's lips twitched slightly.

What student lets their teacher sleep on their lap?