Return of the Shattered Constellation

“Have you finished dispersing the curse?”

“Yes, we’ve confirmed it. We also adjusted the divine ground’s space setting, so they won’t be able to get out. All that’s left now is to go in.”

“Well done.” Narvi nodded, looking at the room where Chang-Sun and Durga were.

It had been two hours since Narvi took action with Vali, her[1] brother. The only task that was left for her and her subordinates was to enter the room and eliminate Chang-Sun and Durga.

The room had to have already been filled with [Gaia's Curse]. It was a trap that no Celestials with <Myths> could escape, so Narvi would soon earn fame for eliminating ‘Divine Twilight’, who was comparable to Tiamat in terms of power and standing.

At the same time, a coup would take place all over 'Nastrond' by Celestials whom Vali and Narvi had been working to persuade for a long time. It was a long-held wish of many <Niflheim> Celestials to make Loki a Celestial King; such hardliners were hell-bent on succeeding in the coup, and most of them would not mind sacrificing themselves.

‘And if I eliminate that whore and those bastards using the chaos…!’ Narvi clenched her fists.

An arrow could strike anyone amid chaos, as it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe in such situations. Thus, it would not be odd if Fenrir, Jörmungandr, Hel, and the whore that had been clouding Loki’s judgment were found as corpses after the coup was finished.

Narvi believed that all she and Vali were doing was setting things straight the way they were supposed to be. After everything was done, they would both be powerful enough to look down on <Heaven> for their accomplishment.

They had both examined the plan several times, so there could be no issue with it. Nevertheless, something felt uncomfortable, as if Narvi was missing something.

‘No, let’s not think about useless stuff before our great mission.’ Narvi forcibly suppressed her anxiety, signaling her subordinates to enter the room.

On the count of three, the subordinates kicked the door down.

Thud!

Hissss―!

Poisonous fog mixed with [Gaia's Curse] flowed out through the opened door. Narvi and her subordinates were under a magic spell that could temporarily protect them from [Gaia's Curse], so the fog was not a big problem.

After Tiamat had lost control of herself and started to cause Worldline #802 to crumble, the magic spell had been devised by Loki, Durga, and others, although it was not easy. It could only be used once and would not last long, but it would be enough to eliminate Chang-Sun and Durga and then get out. However, there was no way to get rid of the nervousness left in the corner of Narvi’s heart, so she jumped into the fog cloud with her teeth clenched.

Swish―!

Just then, an enormous ax spun through the air and crushed the head of the subordinate in front before hitting the floor.

“[Jin Can Axe]…? W-Wait!” Narvi stuttered.

It was well known that ‘Divine Twilight’ used the relics of those he had killed, and Narvi also knew that the ax that had belonged to Suo Chao of <Purple Star Astrology> was one of them. She was taken aback, because throwing a relic like this meant that ‘Divine Twilight’ had no problem using his divine power…!

Swish, swoosh, swish―!

Before Narvi could tell her subordinates to run, the four slayer swords flew toward them like arrows from the darkness.

Stab, slash, stab!

“Keough!”

“Arrrghhh!”

“[Gaia's Curse] must have sprea… Urgh!”

From [Balmung] to [Trollsverd], the famous four slayer swords of ‘Divine Twilight’ struck the subordinates, stabbing into a forehead here and slashing a throat there. At the same time, they created a storm, moving as if they were alive. The storm’s powerful pressure concentrated the poisonous fog within one point, after which a Rádĭus bolt suddenly flew out and shredded the fog.

Whoosh, swoosh, swish…!

Rrrrumble―!

The inside of the room was revealed, allowing Narvi to see piles of corpses belonging to her subordinates scattered across the room. Chang-Sun walked nonchalantly amid the bodies.

Tap, tap―!

Whenever Chang-Sun took a step, the four slayer swords moved together, circling him. Narvi instantly lost her will to continue fighting and sank to the floor without even realizing that her legs had given out. She turned pale as her eyes were glued to Chang-Sun, muttering, “Ho… w…?”

“How was I unaffected?” Chang-Sun finished, his calm dark blue eyes reflecting the quivering Narvi. Chang-Sun scoffed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Who do you think has fought the most against Ubbo-Sathla and the Mother Terra Celestial?”

In truth, the whole situation left Chang-Sun dumbfounded. After discovering that the people who had ambushed Durga were within <Niflheim>, he had concluded that they would soon take action, just as Durga had said. If their goal was really to make Loki a Celestial King, now was a golden opportunity, as Chang-Sun was busy treating Durga.

That was why Chang-Sun had been waiting just in case, to give them a tempting opportunity. However, they had taken the bait so easily that he could hardly believe the result. This was all they had, but they had still thought they had a chance against him.

“You know…” Chang-Sun smiled coldly, taking one step forward toward Narvi. “...this is how you use [Gaia's Curse].”

When Chang-Sun opened his right hand, the scattered [Gaia's Curse] gathered into a sphere.

“D-Don’t come near me…!” Narvi cried, stumbling backward to escape after realizing that something was very wrong.

“Open it.” Chang-Sun grabbed Narvi’s jaw, his Inferno Sight blazing more intensely than ever.

Before long, a scream filled the room.

***

“N-No…!”

Swish…

With an emotionless look, Chang-Sun watched Narvi, who was begging him on the floor to save her as her <Myth> gradually disintegrated. Eventually, however, Narvi vented out her anger. It was truly ridiculous to see how she thought that what she and the others had done was okay, but tasting their own medicine was unfair.

Narvi would plummet on her own if Chang-Sun left her be, so he stopped paying attention to her and turned to look at the innermost part of the room where Durga was calmly sitting in the lotus position with her eyes closed. Durga looked as if she was meditating, but she was not moving one bit, which meant she had already passed away.

‘Durga…’ Chang-Sun repeated what Durga had told him before her death.

She had advised Chang-Sun to reach the zenith to protect his loved ones in the future. Above all, however… Tiamat’s last words allowed Chang-Sun to let go of all the shackles that had been weighing him down and preventing him from making the decision.

“I should… do it if it’s necessary,” Chang-Sun murmured.

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ is content with the decision that his student has made after contemplation.]

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ asks you to quickly reach his level and stand by him.]

…

‘Get to where Mephistopheles is…!’ Chang-Sun felt as if the path in front of him, which had been clouded by fog, cleared up.

Even Emperors treated Mephistopheles with respect, so reaching Mephistopheles’ level could help Chang-Sun find Peter, who was missing right now. If so, Chang-Sun had all the more reason to take the seat of a Celestial King.

Click―!

Chang-Sun opened the door and exited the room. Kali and Gyeo-Ul were standing by in the hallway, but they were not the only ones. Many Celestials who resembled Kali were also present. After the news that Durga had passed away and Kali had inherited her throne became known, all of them had come together to uphold Durga’s last words.

―Stand by the new Celestial King’s side.

“Greetings to the new king.”

“Greetings to the new king.”

[The ‘Himavat Ascetics’ pay their respects to their new master.]

As Kali and Gyeo-Ul kneeled on one knee, Chang-Sun looked at each and every one of the people in the hallway. Each Celestial who trained on the Himavat Mountain had been taught by Durga and were each capable of fighting one hundred people alone. Having them on Chang-Sun’s side would be a great help to him in becoming a Celestial King.

“The war I’m trying to start now will be very dangerous. It’s going to be a matter of survival or destruction, so are you sure you’re okay with fighting for me?” Chang-Sun asked.

The ascetics chuckled after blankly exchanging glances.

Kali smiled faintly as she replied, “Twilight, did you forget about my Divine Name?”

“It’s massacre and destruction.”

“Yes, and that doesn’t only apply to me. It’s the same for my mother and siblings. We engage in massacre and destruction to beget recovery and rebirth, so…” Kali looked straight into Chang-Sun’s eyes and continued in a resolute voice, “...our job right now is to demolish the corrupt order and system, and then build a new one. I believe without a doubt that the tree that will grow out of the new world is going to be bigger and sturdier than anything else.”

After the fall of Odin the Celestial King, the generation of the Nine Heavens had arrived. Just like that, a new generation was about to start where the Nine Heavens had crumbled down, just as the first bloom of spring rose where the chill of winter passed by.

“…<Alfheim>,” Chang-Sun murmured after the word crossed his mind.

Long ago, there had been a <Society> of Celestials who loved trees and grass. For their love of nature, people had called the Celestials Alfs, and their home <Alfheim>. Even though the <Society> had fallen after opposing Odin, things would be different from now on.

“You will become the members of <Alfheim> from now on. Help me in saving this Worldline from the brink of destruction.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

[You have granted the ‘Himavat Ascetics’ the new name of <Alfheim>.]

[For a long time, Alfs have been known as the gardeners of nature, in which life continues to die and be reborn in the cycle of the ecosystem.][2]

[There is no name more suitable for the ‘Himavat Ascetics’ who cause destruction in pursuit of recovery.]

[The ‘Himavat Ascetics’ will henceforth be called Alfs, and will be granted additional divinity.]

[The news has been announced in <Heaven>!]

…

[The Society <Alfheim> is joining a new war alongside the Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’.]

[Ragnarǫk: The War of Twilight has begun!]

Chang-Sun nodded and took the lead. Kali, Gyeo-Ul, and the <Alfheim> ascetics stood up one after another, following Chang-Sun.

***

By the time Chang-Sun left the building…

“We should strike them! Take out their commanders!”

“Kill anyone who stands in our way!”

…what met him outside was total mayhem. Several armed people were threatening other Celestials, while others tried to stop them.

“Shit! Why did a shitshow like this suddenly break out?! ”

“Stop them!”

[The Divine Ground 'Nastrond' is in chaos!]

[The barrier of the Divine Ground ‘Nastrond’ is weakening.]

[Warning! The solidarity of the United Army is weakening due to the very high level of enmity. The United Army might disband unless something is done.]

…

[Many <Societies> are withdrawing from the United Army.]

[Some of the <Societies> are thinking of starting a new coup.]

…

[The Celestial ‘Tsunami Bringer’ dreams about becoming the new king by subduing the chaos!]

[The Celestial ‘Antlered Animal King’ reveals his hidden ambition!]

[The Celestial ‘Plague Monarch’ jumps up and down anxiously, murmuring that people are making a dangerous choice!]

…

The rebel and defense armies had begun to clash. Something had to have gone wrong because the coup was not going well, but the problem was that many of the United Army Celestials who were unrelated to <Niflheim> began to dream about taking Tiamat’s seat.

“It’s a disaster.” Chang-Sun chuckled dumbfoundedly. With a cold gaze, he said, “<Alfheim>.”

Kali, Gyeo-Ul, and all the ascetics turned to look at Chang-Sun. As it was Chang-Sun’s first order, they had to succeed no matter what.

“Crush them all,” Chang-Sun commanded.

1. In Norse mythology, Narvi is actually male. ☜

2. These are the elves of Norse mythology. ☜