arriving at Jotenheim(Chapter 52)

Yawning, Oliver remarked, "Well, that was something," sheathing his two swords before descending from the creature's corpse. He appeared different now, taller than before at 6 feet 6 inches, his fiery red hair cascading down to his thighs like a flowing scarf. Two imposing black horns protruded from his head, accentuating his transformed appearance. But these physical changes were just the surface manifestations of his newfound power.

Having surpassed the 5% threshold of his Asgardian bloodline, Oliver could now breathe fire, a potent ability that drained his stamina. "Now then, it's time to collect some spoils," he declared, shaking his head to revert to his human-like form. His horns, elongated canines, and black nails receded, and his once-extended hair returned to a more manageable length, reaching just past his neck.

Reverting to his human form was a skill that just appeared in his head but it was a way to blend in when necessary. Despite cutting his long hair in a futile attempt to maintain it, it always grew back upon transformation. With his humanoid appearance restored, Oliver set about collecting various materials from the fallen beast, including its ice-blue blood, flesh, bones, and heart.

"With this, I should be able to craft a complete ice weapons, armor, and accessories set," Oliver mused, his mind already envisioning the array of elemental equipment he aimed to create. His Sorcerer-Killer set served as anti-magic gear, complemented by his fire-based abilities. Yet, he sought to assemble sets for each elemental affinity—water, earth, lightning, light, time, space, void, and air—providing him with versatile options for any encounter.

As Oliver harvested materials, he noticed a strange movement beneath the ice-blue blood pooling on the ground. Intrigued, he observed as the liquid formed a peculiar circle, swirling with an otherworldly energy. Suddenly, the dead creature emitted a furious roar, its spectral presence looming. Oliver found himself engulfed in a swirling snowstorm, which dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.

To his surprise, Oliver now stood in a frigid ice tundra, surrounded by vast stretches of frozen landscape. Realizing he had traversed through another portal, he simply sighed, accustomed to such occurrences. "Hmmm, portal again," he muttered, surveying the icy expanse before him.

"And this time, where am I?" Oliver questioned himself, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and calm. The unknown location didn't seem to instill fear or worry in him; instead, he found himself greatly intrigued by his current predicament. "Anyways, it's not like I can't go back," he muttered, glancing down at the branded circle on the ground that had brought him here. After marking his location, Oliver donned appropriate clothes for the chilly weather, preparing for whatever lay ahead.

As he started walking in a random direction, a periodic thud caught his attention, drawing his focus to a distant sound. "Something big... I wonder what it is," he mused, pausing to wait for the approaching creature.

It didn't take long for the creature to reveal itself—a towering ice giant emerged from the horizon, wielding massive white bone clubs and adorned in small, fur loincloths. There were two of them, and they quickly spotted Oliver. "A mortal! Ahhhaa, it's been many moons since we tasted mortal flesh," boomed the elder ice giant with a thick white beard, while the other, sporting a bone nose ring and wielding a spiked metal club, sneered, "Bah, Rogter, this mortal isn't even enough for me to clean the meat between my teeth. Leave him to me!"

While most would have trembled at the sight of these colossal beings charging toward them, Oliver was more concerned with which weapons to choose from his arsenal. "Using the symbiote suit is too boring, and there doesn't seem to be a mage among the two. So what should I use?" he pondered to himself, evaluating his options.

"Look, the mortal is frozen with fear, as expected of Rogter, as it was written," the younger ice giant remarked, observing Oliver's apparent hesitation. However, Oliver vanished suddenly, much to the ice giants' surprise. "What?" the giant bellowed in bewilderment.

"A mortal sorcerer," the elder ice giant muttered in recognition as Oliver reappeared, this time wielding the adamantium shield and the marrow devourer. Before the ice giants could fully react to Oliver's reappearance, he leaped forward with his enhanced physiology, meeting the swing of the club head-on.

The impact sent a great pressure through Oliver's body, but his thin, protective membrane absorbed half of it, leaving him able to endure the rest. The shield glowed momentarily, as if absorbing the force, and Oliver felt the potential to unleash an equally powerful force in return. However, he held back, assessing the situation.

Taking advantage of the ice giant's shock, Oliver swiftly leaped towards the nearest one, still reeling from the sudden attack. With a precise swing of his marrow devourer, the ice giant's head was sent flying. Landing gracefully, Oliver then darted toward the remaining ice giant, which had fallen to its knees from a tendon cut.

"Odgur, you will pay for this, mortal!" the ice giant roared, swinging its club down toward Oliver. With a deft sidestep, Oliver avoided the blow, the impact sending snow flying into the air. Seizing the opportunity, he sliced at the ice giant's ankles, severing tendons and causing it to collapse with a pained howl.

Ignoring the flurry of snow kicked up by the fallen giant, Oliver leaped up and drove the marrow devourer into the back of its neck, swiftly ending its life. "Hmm, they aren't bad, although a bit too emotional," Oliver remarked as he began to extract useful materials from the fallen giants—heart, eyes, blood, bones, and flesh—all essential for his crafting endeavors.

As Oliver continued his exploration of the realm, he encountered various wonders: giant frost wolves, enormous frost snakes, and delicate ice flowers. Each discovery added to his collection of materials and ideas. Eventually, his compass led him to a cave, its hologram indicating an underground structure within.

"Interesting," Oliver murmured, intrigued by the possibility of a tomb or some other ancient structure. With a sense of adventure, he entered the cave, eager to uncover its secrets.

After entering the cave, Oliver walked nonchalantly, his enhanced vision allowing him to navigate the darkness effortlessly. The dimly lit walls of the cave seemed to close in around him, the air carrying a faint musty scent of ancient stone and earth. Not that he couldn't find a way to illuminate the path; he could, but the challenge intrigued him. As he ventured deeper, the dampness of the cave walls gave way to a smooth, cold stone surface. 

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A/N i should have titled this volume traveling the 10 realms cause he is going to be just that, anyways, i hope you guys have a good day to day.

PS: he looks just like the picture in the profile, and i just watched ep8 of the witcher season 1, and I LIKE CRAFTING THINGS.