IBHJ Chapter 804

The fire giant traveled the night sky, making his way to the border near Helheim. Several human villages dotted the landscape, including the one Shirou had visited before - the village where little Gelda lived. However, the fire giant refrained from attacking these settlements, as they were located in frost giant territory.

The fire giant arrived at a remote, snow-capped mountain, home to a handful of frost giants. He was aware that these frost giants had crossed the border before his own kind, but had been lying low and had struck a deal with the nearby human villages. As long as the villages provided timely sacrifices, the frost giants would leave them be.

Later on, Thrud used the Valkyrie Network to scour the area for any signs of frost giant tribes, but her attempts were in vain. It wasn't that she intentionally hid the presence of these frost giants; rather, they were under the protection of a Giant among Giants. This was none other than Bergelmir, the war god of the Giants, the ruler of the Frost Giants, and the First Giant brought into existence by Yggdrasil itself.

The moment the fire giant set foot in the Frost Giant tribe, he was spotted by the frost giants. They quickly surrounded him, letting out hostile howls. "Ha! a fire giant! You have some nerve showing your face here." one of the frost giants sneered, his voice dripping with animosity.

Frost giants and fire giants were both giants, and while their relationship hadn't been particularly amicable a few thousand years ago, they had managed to get along due to their shared enemy: the Nordic gods.

However, the frost giants' hatred for the fire giants had been simmering ever since Surtr's manipulation over 2,000 years ago, which had led to the frost giants being purified by the Enlightened One in Pan-Human History.

"I seek an audience with the great king, Bergelmir," the fire giant declared.

"The great king Bergelmir is not someone you can simply demand to see on a whim! Prepare to meet your end here!" The frost giants lunged at the fire giant, but they were no match for his strength. He easily knocked them to the ground, though he refrained from striking them dead. After thwarting their attacks, he withdrew his hand and bellowed, "Destruction is coming. Are you really going to just sit back and do nothing, great King Bergelmir?"

The frost giants were furious and continued to attack the fire giant. Suddenly, amidst the heavy snowfall, a majestic voice echoed from the snowy mountain: "Come in."

Those simple words instantly subdued the frost giants, forcing them to grudgingly step aside, glaring at the fire giant as he made his way into the mountain. They had no choice but to obey, for the voice belonged to none other than their king, Bergelmir.

Taking a deep breath, the fire giant entered the cave. Inside, he was immediately confronted by a shocking sight: Bergelmir, the frost giant, had placed himself inside a cage of fire. The fire giant couldn't believe his eyes. Frost giants were made of ice and frost, and placing himself in a cage of fire was essentially a slow and agonizing form of suicide.

What made the scene even more perplexing was that Bergelmir was known as the strongest frost giant. While fire couldn't destroy his body, it could still torture him endlessly. The fire giant couldn't help but wonder why this great Giant War God would willingly subject himself to such torment.

Bergelmir looked up at the fire giant, "More than 2,000 years ago, Surtr convinced me to be his spear, to clear the way for him. I defeated the Valkyrie Legion, crushed the Fairies Alliance, and trampled their proud kingdom to dust. I destroyed the armies of Dwarves and Gnomes, turning countless human empires into scorched earth. I even seized the opportunity to attack Asgard and invade Pan-Human History. In that world, I made those arrogant modern humans experience true fear, but in the end, my tribesmen were all destroyed by that accursed Saver, and I alone escaped back in disgrace."

Bergelmir's voice grew heavy with emotion. "I've been consumed by guilt and regret ever since. If I had not listened to Surtr's instigation, would my tribesmen have met such a cruel fate at the hands of that Saver? This cage of fire is my torture, my punishment for leading them to their doom!" He stared at the fire giant with bloodshot eyes.

The fire giant clenched his fist and spoke with conviction. "Great King Bergelmir, destruction is a certainty now. But if we fight for it, there is still a chance, a possibility of survival."

Bergelmir continued as though he hadn't heard him, "I believed Surtr's words, and that's why the Frost Giants ended up like this. We went from a population of millions to a mere two hundred and twenty-seven, unable to recover our strength for over two thousand years. Even when Hel occupied my land and created her abominations in my kingdom, I had no choice but to let her. Tell me, shouldn't this debt be placed on Surtr's head?"

"No!" the fire giant shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "Everything we do is for the sake of our survival!"

Bergelmir's eyes narrowed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Haa... I couldn't understand before, but now I see it clearly. He's trying to use us again as stepping stones to test the way!" His anger boiled over as he continued, "I know why you're here. Hahaha! You can't defeat that Human King's army. You can't break through their defensive line, so now you want to use us again?"

The fire giant's heart sank, "No, that's not-,"

"I know everything that happens in this world. The ancestor's first choice to save and free him was not Hel, not Surtr, but me. It's just that I've lost interest in everything." Bergelmir's voice grew cold as he delivered his final words. "Go back, giant. Before I change my mind and kill you."

"Could it be that the great Bergelmir, the great father of the frost giants, has lost interest in the very survival of his own people?" the fire giant shouted desperately.

Bergelmir slammed his fist against the fire cage, causing it to rattle and clang violently. "I know exactly what Surtr wants you to do!" he roared. "Do you think Surtr can deceive me a second time?"

"This isn't a deception. My king is benevolent and generous. He's agreed that if you help us enter Pan-Human History, we fire giants will lead the way, and we'll also help the frost giants rebuild their kingdom."

Bergelmir laughed mockingly. "Hahaha. Surtr's really thought this through. We only have a little over two hundred people. Even if we enter Pan-Human History, the frost giants won't benefit and might even be assimilated by the fire giants."

The fire giant reassured him, "Don't worry. My king definitely won't assimilate the frost giants. You should know that he's a kind ruler, not just to fire giants, but to all giants. He's a spirit born from the concept of Laevateinn. After the gods expelled him, we giants accepted him. That's why he's the only one who can put aside prejudice and be the king of all giants."

"I don't doubt his ability, but the conditions he mentioned... Heh. Talk is cheap," Bergelmir said coldly. "Surtr's the best at deceiving people."

"Who says talk is cheap? This is my king's sincerity!" The fire giant took out Surtr's arm.

Bergelmir looked at the arm, his sarcastic expression instantly turning to shock. "Surtr... he actually cut off his right arm?"

"That's not all. My king also gave you this." The fire giant took out four Origin Wheels.

Bergelmir stared at the four wheels, deeply shocked. "He even used four of them as collateral. Surtr, you...!" He was shaken by Surtr's generosity. How could Surtr mutilate himself for the sake of his people? Yet, to gain Bergelmir's trust, Surtr did it.

Origin Wheels were the authority of the Alien Gods. Four whole wheels - this was equivalent to handing over the authority of the world! What kind of king would do such a thing? Yet, Surtr did it. Bergelmir asked himself, could he do the same? Absolutely not. Any person, any creature with a selfish nature, would be unable to do something like this, right? But Surtr did it. This showed that Surtr's sincerity was indeed genuine, that he was truly thinking and looking at the bigger picture from the perspective of the race's survival. And Bergelmir had to admit that he absolutely couldn't do this.