章 109: Ragnarök
I stared at Yggdrasil after what she said.
"So, you know what Ragnarök is?" Yggdrasil commented.
"Okay, that's bad, but don't worry. I'll stop it," I said firmly.
"No, you won't."
"What?"
"You'll let it happen, Zack. As it should," I stared at Yggdrasil in shock.
"Do you really think I'll just stand by and let it happen?!" I asked, throwing my arms in the air in rage.
"No, I don't 'think' You'll do it, I'm telling you to," Yggdrasil said.
"There has to be a way to stop it!" I yelled.
"It's not a matter of whether you can or can't do it. It's about the fact you shouldn't."
"So I'm just supposed to stand here and let this whole place get destroyed?!"
"Yes. That's exactly what you should and will do."
"We'll see about that," I said as I turned to my wind element and shot to the air.
"Zack! Wait!"
I didn't even bother acknowledging her call. I just kept heading higher and higher until I burst through the wall of clouds. Looking around, I spotted the city of gold I saw all those years ago.
Time to pay Asgard a visit.
Flying towards the city at large speed, I didn't even acknowledge the guards that suddenly appeared at the entrance and threw spears at me. Their weapons just passed through me anyway.
I didn't even look around the city. I just headed towards the largest building with the largest amount of Divine energy.
"Intruder!" As soon as I got close, Valkyries filled the sky.
They all started throwing spears of light at me, but of course they didn't work.
"Out of my way," controlling the divine metal of their armours, I sent them all flying away, I then willed the gates of the giant castle to smack open. "Odin!"
At the end of a large hallway was a really big throne and sitting on it was an equally large man with a fur trimmed long cape, a very pointy and large crown, and an eyepatch. He had a long beard and was holding a very large spear in one of his hands.
"So, you've come, mirror of the planet?" He didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
He probably always knew I was at Yggdrasil's forest. But I have no time to wonder on what he does or doesn't know.
"Ragnarök is happening," I told him.
"I'm well aware of that."
"How do we stop it?"
"We won't," again with this?!
"We both know what will happen if Ragnarök is stopped," Odin replied.
"WHY?!" I asked, outraged.
Wait... is he talking about a Pruning? But how does he- Oh! Right! His crows were in the Norse Lostbelt! But that doesn't explain-....
Yggdrasil... Odin got his wisdom from Yggdrasil... that means the reason she was telling me that stuff was because she knew of the Pruning Phenomenon...
"Should we of the Norse Pantheon survive, it would be because of our own strength, not your assistance," Odin said and now I understand why his entire territory has this ridiculous mindset. "I thank you for creating such a great hero from that boy, but your assistance is no longer required."
Svend! I gotta warn him!
Just like that, I was out of Odin's castle and heading straight towards Svend's city. It didn't take me a minute to reach it with the speed I was going, and they were still fixing up after the party.
Finding Svend carrying a barrel, I landed in front of him.
"Oh, Meistari? Have you finally changed your mind about that drinking con-"
"Ragnarök is happening," Svend's eyes widen and he
almost dropped the barrel. "Get these people ready to move. Now."
Svend recovered after a few seconds. Sighing, he shook his head. "Sorry, Meistari, but no."
What is wrong with everyone for saying that!?
"This isn't up for debate, Svend. I'm ordering you-"
"To what? Tell those people to run away from their homes? From the greatest battle in the history of our land?" Svend sat the barrel and crossed his arms. "Meistari, I may have been able to unite those people, but I can't do the impossible. Even if I try to force them, they won't obey."
"Fine! Then you can-"
"No."
"WHY?"
"I am their king, and if I die, it shall be in front of my people," Svend stated firmly. "You are the one who told me to power through fear."
"Yes, but I also told you there's a difference between bravery and stupidity!" I retorted.
Svend gave me a look that definitely showed his determination. "Sorry, Meistari. But I'm staying."
"Dammit! Svend, I... I...," I groaned before placing my hands on his shoulders. "I'm... proud of you. I've always been... don't you dare die with your back turned."
"Never would dream of it, Meistari," Svend smiled before opening his arms... and giving me a hug. I hugged my student... someone like a son to me... for the last time before pushing him away and immediately shooting through the air. Flying towards Yggdrasil, I landed in front of the World Tree and turned to my rock element. "Alright, hold still," I said raising my hands.
"Zack, what are you doing?" Yggdrasil asked.
"I'm gonna try to send you to the Reverse Side. If I dig deep enough, I can-"
"Zack, stop. First off, I already have roots there. Second off, Nidhogg is already down there eating some of my roots. It won't matter if you send me there."
"Then I'll just stay here and protect you specifically. I don't need to stop Ragnarök."
"That's ridiculous, Zack. I am the heart of the Norse Age of Gods. Even if all Norse gods die, their age of Gods will not end as long as I live," Yggdrasil explained making me groan out.
"You're still hiding so what does it matter?"
"Zack."
"And how do we know the age of gods ending is a good thing? Maybe something bad WON'T happen?"
"Zack!"
"And even if it did, I'll... I'll fix it! I'll fix whatever goes-"
"*sniff*"
"... Drasil?" She was crying.
"T-Thank you *sniff*," Yggdrasil was definitely crying.
"I have been around for so long... but no one ever reached out to me unless they were a god that wanted something. I... I have watched Ymir take his first steps on the world. I told myself "sniff" that I was okay. That everything was alright as long as I can watch the Nine Realms. But I wasn't okay! I was lonely! I wanted to talk to someone! Anyone! But no one ever heard my voice. "sniff" but then... you came. You talked to me. You stayed with me. I know you just did it because you thought I was lonely, but I didn't care! For once, someone heard my voice! These years I've spent with you have been the happiest of my life. "
"That's why... I have long accepted this outcome, Zack. That no one will mourn my passing, but here you are. So, thank you. Thank you for being the family I've always wished for. But, please, Zack, my time has come. I beg of you. Don't do something we both know you'll regret."
"I...," what the hell was I supposed to say? "Is... Is there something you'd like me to do?"
"There is one thin- URGH!," Yggdrasil was cut off by a cry of pain.
The ground suddenly shook and Yggdrasil's light dimmed by a lot. Looking around, the mountains in the distance began cracking with lava seeping through the cracks.
"Drasil!" I yelled.
"I-It's okay!" Her light returned. "Listen, Zack. I need you to head northwest from here. Go as far as you can until you reach a small grass field. You'll find something there."
"... I'm sorry I couldn't do more," I said reluctantly as I turned to my wind element and began flying away.
"You've long done more than enough," was the last thing I heard from Yggdrasil as I flew out of the forest.
Third POV:
Rolling his shoulders around, Svend cracked his neck a few times as he walked towards the entrance of his city. Holding one half of Astrid in each hand, he looked at the sight before him.
Rivers of fire were burning through the lands. Dozens if not hundreds of giants marched forward with a colossal figure wielding a sword beginning to rise from one of the mountains.
"Fear is like a wave," Svend mumbled before raising both halves of Astrid. "When it comes rushing towards you, you hold your ground, raise your shield, and power through it. Isn't that right, Meistari?"
First POV: Zack
I have been flying for a while. I passed a lot of grass fields but none of those fit the description that Yggdrasil gave me. Soon enough though, I found it. It stood out being surrounded by barren lands. It was really small. In fact, it could have been passed off as a normal house's backyard. Landing in the grass field, I turned to my wood element. I looked around for what Yggdrasil wanted me to find.
Suddenly, a very small branch grew from the ground and formed a... hand? A small hand somewhat resembling a human's hand.
"Zack, can you hear me?"
"Drasil?" I asked, recognising that voice.
"At the moment, you are outside of Norse territory. This is one of my branches that grew furthest from me," she said.
"But why did you bring me here?" I asked.
"... I'm... I'm scared, Zack," Yggdrasil whimpered. "I may have accepted this has to happen, but I'm still afraid of dying. So... can you please hold me?" I didn't say anything. I just knelt down and grabbed the branch with both my hands and felt... nothing.
Dammit! Ever since I became like this, I haven't felt a single thing that touched me! I want to feel something Just this once!
I just closed my eyes and held her hand as tightly as I could.
"The fires are reaching the forest."
The sound of mountains erupting and something that sounded like a large snake hissing filled the air.
"They're getting closer to me!"
Dammit! Please! This once! Just this once!
"My body is burning! I-It hurts!"
"I'm sorry. It's gonna be over soon. I'm so sorry," I didn't even know that my mouth was moving when I said this. I just closed my eyes for... I don't know how long and held her hand as tightly as I could. Dammit! Just once! LET ME FEEL SOMEONE'S TOUCH JUST ONCE!
But... I didn't. I just kept gripping the hand while the voices of battle and destruction kept going. I didn't care for any of them. I didn't care for the Norse Pantheon or their territory.
The only thing I care for right now is the hand I'm holding.
At one point, the voices started getting weaker and weaker, until the only thing left was the cackling of embers.
Opening my hands, I watched as the small grey hand- shaped branch started crumbling.
"Thank... you..."
"... I'm sorry," I don't even know why I said it again. Yggdrasil is truly gone now.
... I'm an idiot.
Babylon and Greek? I've been telling myself that I left them because it was the better option, but the truth is... I guess I subconsciously knew that I'll stay while they vanish.
I left because I was scared of seeing them go.
I think this is the first time it occurred to me: I'm not changed.
Possibly never going to.
I'm gonna stay and watch as everything vanish.
I knew that already but I think this is the first time I finally realise what that really means.
"What am I supposed to do, Yggdrasil?" I asked the remains of the branch, hoping for a miracle that would never come.
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