IBHJ Chapter 781

As soon as the wheels began to spin, they emitted a blinding divine light, searing the eyes of all who looked directly at them. A terrifying mana, unseen but almost tangible, began to pour out, insidiously interfering with the very fabric of this dying world. The wind surged violently around them, whipping Surtr's hair wildly as he stood firm against the howling gale.

The Fire Giant behind Surtr suddenly felt his breathing become smoother, and his body's strength grew stronger than before. It wasn't that he had actually become stronger, but rather the air pressure and atmospheric factors limiting his body had been adjusted. He knew that the king was modifying the world's laws, making it more suitable for the giants.

The Fire Giant's eyes blazed with confidence. "We'll definitely win!" he thought to himself.

...

Galahad, Sigurd, and sixty Knights of the Round Table led 300,000 troops to the designated area. Sigurd called this place Alfheim, once home to the fairies. However, during that devastating war two thousand years ago, when Ogelmir manifested, the fairies were all devoured by him. Skadi had also frozen the area, sealing it in eternal ice.

But now, with Skadi overthrown, Hel unsealing the world, and Ogelmir's death, the fairy kingdom was freed from the ice seal. This land was once filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, comparable to the legendary Avalon and Eden. However, after the ice seal was lifted, the exposed ground was a deathly yellow soil, severely desertified and devoid of even a hint of green plants or signs of life. It was as if the very essence of vitality had been drained from the earth, leaving behind a land of death and desolation.

While the Fire Giants' main force had yet to arrive, Galahad ordered the soldiers to set up camp and rest on the spot. Meanwhile, he took Sigurd and some knights to survey the terrain.

The place was surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordered by the sea on one side, making it a perfect strategically advantageous location. If a fortress were built on those three mountains, it would be incredibly difficult for enemy troops outside the gate to break through.

Unfortunately, this was true for humans, but for giants who often stood over thirty or fifty meters tall, it was completely meaningless. These were infamous creatures, even among predators, and not monsters that ordinary people could imagine.

The giants' body sturdiness and destructive power were beyond the imagination of modern people. Perhaps an army of 100,000 giants would be enough to sweep across Europe. This was because their bodies could not be penetrated by firearms, and with specially crafted obsidian armaments from the Age of Gods, they could easily defend against intercontinental ballistic missiles. Moreover, due to the Fire Giants' characteristics, nuclear radiation and explosions not only had no effect on them but would actually enhance their power.

The only ones capable of defeating these Fire Giants were the Heroic Spirits, the guardians of human order. Indeed, only mystery could be used to deal with mystery. After clashing with these giants, Galahad understood in his heart that if the king's army had not become Heroic Spirits with miraculous Noble Phantasms, they would have been utterly defeated.

If Vortigern had an army like this, he probably would've dealt with them effortlessly, even when they were still in the flesh. However, Vortigern's defeat at that time was due to the limitations of the era and the looseness of his army. These Fire Giants didn't have those weaknesses. They were mythical creatures, even more powerful than magical beasts, and they possessed high military discipline and a modern perspective, making them practically invincible.

This war was going to be extremely difficult, but fortunately, there was a silver lining: these giants were living creatures, made of flesh and blood. Galahad contemplated this as he communicated with Sigurd while inspecting the terrain.

After inspecting the shape of the mountains on three sides, Galahad and Sigurd came to the seaside. Suddenly, a huge explosion erupted on the sea surface, the boom like a massive thunderclap that seemed to shake the world. In the next moment, the distant sea erupted in a frenzy of churning water and foam. It appeared as though the seawater itself was being forcibly split apart by a tremendous, unseen force. The sheer power of the disturbance stirred up several towering waves that rushed towards the shore with terrifying speed.

As the immense waves crashed against the coast, the ground shuddered and cracked, the once-flat expanse buckling and fracturing into a jagged, uneven terrain. The earth itself seemed to groan under the pounding of the colliding forces

Amidst the chaos and destruction, a new horror emerged. "What is that?!" someone cried out in surprise, their voice nearly lost in the deafening roar of the waves. Hundreds of massive, black tentacles shot into the sky, their writhing forms reaching towards the horizon like nightmarish tendrils grasping at the heavens. The monstrous appendages seemed to possess a life of their own, twisting and coiling with an unsettling, almost alien grace.

Sigurd took a glance and said calmly, "It's a Kraken."

"Kraken?" Galahad turned to look at Sigurd, asking strangely, "Isn't Kraken the kind of humanoid sea monster we faced before? It was so weak that it couldn't even..."

"Those were mini Krakens," Sigurd interrupted, turning his head to gaze deeply at the sky-piercing tentacles. "This is the real Kraken. The giant monster of the North Sea."

The Kraken, the colossal beast of Norse mythology, was on par with the World Serpent Jormungandr and the Black Dragon Nidhogg. It was born from the umbilical cord of the primordial creature Audhumla after the giant ancestor Ymir, or Ogelmir, drained it dry. Back in the Age of Gods, it was cornered three times by the gods led by Odin, but each time it fought back and broke through their defenses, leaving them powerless against it.

"It was supposed to have been frozen by Skadi more than two thousand years ago. But as the ice seal ended, it freed itself," Sigurd explained.

Galahad frowned, "You're telling me there's a terrifying magical beast like that in this sea? This area isn't just bad for defense, it's extremely dangerous!"

"Actually, it's the opposite, Galahad," Sigurd said, shaking his head.

Galahad's frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

"Kraken only attacks creatures that invade its territory, and it only eats giants."

"So, if we set up camp here, it won't attack us?" Galahad asked.

"Humans are too small for it. We can't satisfy its hunger at all."

"Are you sure it only eats giants?"

"Yes, because there is no more suitable food in this world."

"I see, but are you sure it won't change its eating habits?"

"I can't say for certain. But there's no better place to defend against giants than right here. You don't want your soldiers battling giants on the plains, do you? You'd need at least two million soldiers to defend the fortress if that were the case," Sigurd pointed out.

Galahad knew deep down that Sigurd was telling the truth. Compared to giants, humans were just too small, even those who had become Heroic Spirits.

Galahad thought for a moment before turning to the knights behind him. "Give the order. Send three thousand men to set up separate lookout posts here to keep an eye on things. The rest of you, move the camp forward ten thousand meters and establish a military fortress along the mountains!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The knights moved out to relay the orders. Their movements were swift yet calm, showcasing their elite military training. Of course, this was to be expected from the Knights of the Round Table.

"I see," Sigurd said with a nod of understanding. "You want to take advantage of the favorable terrain here while also keeping an eye on the Kraken. It might seem straightforward, but it's a solid plan."

"That's the key to a successful campaign. As long as you keep a clear head, even unfavorable conditions can work in your favor. Of course, caution is still important." Galahad turned his head to look at the Kraken's tentacles piercing the sky. His handsome face was filled with determination. "Time to use you to our advantage, Kraken!"

...

"Lord Eldrimr, Alfheim is just ahead."

Eldrimr stared at the distant mountains, his expression cold. He remembered Alfheim well. More than two thousand years ago, the most beautiful and important part of it was destroyed. The flowers, the birds, the sweet fragrance—all of it turned into a desolate wasteland. With a sneer, Eldrimr said, "Isn't that exactly what our vanguard army is meant to do?"

Information from the command center indicated a high likelihood of Eternal King's elite troops defending the area, but Eldrimr was brimming with confidence. "They're just humans, after all. How can they compare to us? We'll show them who the true masters of terror are."

These humans, they already knew the strength of Eternal King's army and the commander's style. If he was being honest, Eldrimr didn't think Eternal King's troops were all that powerful. If it came down to a tough fight, even if they outnumbered Eldrimr's forces three to one, it wouldn't matter.

As long as we don't run into that turtle shell bastard, we should be fine, Eldrimr thought to himself. The memory of the turtle shell he faced at the gate of Muspelheim made him sneer. That's right, he was the giant commander who initially fought against Galahad. He had the upper hand at first, but the reason he was defeated at Muspelheim's gate and forced to retreat was because of Galahad's Noble Phantasm, which left Eldrimr feeling sick. Moreover, Eldrimr's legion relied on their physical prowess, making them basically a moving target for Galahad's Noble Phantasm.