There was a slight rumbling sound as the projection of Yggdrasil glowed brightly. I could even sense that the temple was moving to another direction.
After some moments, the rumbling died down and everything returned to normal. I stepped out of the realm travel room, and nothing seemed to change; I was starting to wonder if I even traveled through the realms.
However, that belief changed quickly when I opened the main door. There was a world filled with fire and lava, with a temperature that exceeded hundred degrees Celsius, which was a bit of a problem for me, considering the nature of my body and soul.
The lava had melted the bridge and deformed its original shape. As I walked, I saw a short bearded creature working in a forgery, making a great-sword.
"Hey, Little Man," he said when I approached. To be honest, I was irritated by the fact that a dwarf was calling me 'Little Man'.
"Dwarf," I said.
"So, what business brings you to the realm of utmost fire, son?"
"I am looking for Fárbuati. Have you seen him?"
"Ah, so you are the idiot the big grumpy guy mentioned earlier. To find him you should pass the first five trials of Muspelheim, and the sixth would be fighting the big guy.
"Now see yourself off, I have work to do. Go on."
With that he resumed his work on the great-sword, completely ignoring me. Now I know that dwarves have very strange and weird personalities, but this particular dwarven fellow was incredibly rude. I guess it is in his nature.
I went on to find the first arena after climbing a few mountains, where a giant sword was stabbed in the middle of the arena.
The sword had a very strange designs on it. Approaching it to have a better look, I touched these designs. Instantly I heard a voice in my head, a completely emotionless voice, "Trial I: Defeat twenty enemies in one minute."
"A talking sword?" I said.
"Wait, I recognize that voice, it's Sumarbrander! But why is it so emotionless? Last time we met, he had that amazing song that we sang all night! Ahh that night, I wish I could get drunk like that again!" said Pangu, completely immersed in his memories.
"Swords can get drunk?" I exclaimed.
"In some ways, yeah. I don't expect you to understand the world of swords, lad, after all we have very unique natures."
"Okay... Let's see what kind of trial this is."
I voiced my decision and the sword disappeared, whereas enemies started to come from everywhere.
There were draugar, undead warriors that differ in their weapon usage. There were also ogres, which looked like giant savage apes, as well as revenants and tatzelwurms, which are... Well, worms.
"Do you want help?" asked Pangu.
"Is that a question?" I said and lunged at the monsters. It didn't even take fifty seconds to finish them off.
"Trial I: Success," said Sumarbrander. A gate was to the side opened, revealing the way to the next trial.
I walked for a bit and reached the next arena where Sumarbrander was also stabbed in the middle. After touching the sword, Sumarbrander's voice said, "Trial II: Defeat all enemies in four minutes."
"Here we go again," I said.
And so on, I went through all the five trials, and arrived at the sixth arena, where there was no sword, only Fárbuati.