IBHJ Chapter 774

Adam, his form now that of a primordial giant, slowly took up a stance, his feet planted firmly on the ground. He gazed calmly at the manifesting trunk of Ogelmir, fully aware that even in its incomplete state, it was a terrifying enemy.

Several branches lashed out at him. Light emanated from Adam's hands, forming two glowing swords. He parried the first strike, his sword clashing against the branch with a resounding clang. Spinning on his heel, he dodged another branch and retaliated with a swift cut, slicing through the wood with ease.

Adam continued his offensive, employing a series of quick slashes and thrusts, targeting the joints and weak points of the branches. His footwork was impeccable as he sidestepped and pivoted, always maintaining a stable stance while he attacked. Parrying another incoming strike, he countered with a powerful overhead slash, severing a large branch cleanly in half.

"Ogelmir is a star-destroying weapon from a long-forgotten time, built to wipe out entire civilizations. Your Servant will be nothing more than an ant in the clutches of a predator."

At these words, Hel glanced at Adam, but this brief distraction was all the demonic bodhisattva needed to break through Ratatoskr's defenses with a sneak attack. But in that moment, Adam, his arm partially restrained by Ogelmir's branches, twisted his wrist and grabbed the branches tightly. His eyes began to glow, and with a resounding whoosh, his body's radiance intensified, as if he were absorbing nutrients. His form grew even more colossal.

Demonic bodhisattva stared in disbelief. "How is this possible? He's actually absorbing Ogelmir's mana in reverse?"

Of course, Adam's true identity was the ultimate creation completed by Avicebron - [Royal Crown - the Light of Wisdom]. Just like Ogelmir, it had the ability to absorb everything as fuel for its own growth. If Ogelmir could absorb Adam's mana, then it made sense that Adam could also absorb Ogelmir's mana in return. However, this counter-absorption could only catch Ogelmir by surprise when it wasn't fully manifested. If Ogelmir were to fully manifest or be prepared for the attack, Adam would no longer be able to siphon off its nutrients.

Ogelmir also noticed this point and immediately enveloped the branches restraining Adam with a layer of dark blue magical light, using some unrecognizable ability to directly block Adam's absorption. Just as it was about to absorb Adam in return, the phantom hellhound Garm suddenly rushed over with a roar, wielding the authority of Destruction to destroy the branches binding Adam. Garm's spectral claws tore through the enchanted wood, ripping and shredding it to splinters.

Adam landed on the ground, his massive body causing the earth to crack with a resounding boom. The impact kicked up a cloud of dust and debris. He half-knelt on the ground, one fist pressed to the earth to steady himself, and turned his head to look at Hel.

Hel, while nimbly dodging the demonic bodhisattva's grasping hands, used her Command Spells on him: "By the power of the Command Spells, defeat him, Primordial Human!" She used three Command Spells in a row.

Adam gave her a quick nod before turning his attention to Ogelmir, who was slowly manifesting from the seal. As Adam clenched his fists, his body trembled with terrifying mana that warped the very fabric of space around him. Sensing Adam's intention, Ogelmir unleashed a barrage of branches from the earth, resembling the hands of demons, filling the sky with their menacing dance.

Under Hel's command, the hellhound Garm let out a fierce howl and transformed into a beam of pure destructive light. It charged towards the branches, causing an earth-shattering boom that echoed like thunder. Garm's power obliterated the branches, carving a path that led directly to Ogelmir's trunk.

Demonic Bodhisattva mumbled. "Using Ogelmir as nutrients to seize its chance at manifestation... I've never heard of such a thing."

Hel fixed her icy gaze on the Demonic Bodhisattva and spoke in a chilling voice, "Looks like you're the only one left, Beast!"

But the demonic bodhisattva seemed unfazed by Hel's chilling tone. She smiled elegantly, almost amused. "Oh, really? Are you sure about that?"

Suddenly, Andersen cried out, "Watch out, Master!"

Hel lowered her gaze, her eyes widening in disbelief as she saw a sword protruding from her abdomen.

She turned her head stiffly and saw Svadilfari's horse face.

"Didn't expect to be caught off guard by someone you underestimated, did you, Hel?" Demonic bodhisattva asked, a smile playing on her lips.

With a sneer, Hel yanked the sword out of her abdomen. "You really think a mere sword can kill a god? That's too absurd, even for a dream."

"Oh, is it now?" Demonic Bodhisattva smiled.

Suddenly, Hel clutched her abdomen, coughing up blood. But the blood she spat out wasn't the usual vivid red. Instead, it was a bizarre, unnatural blue. Even more unsettling, the blood oozing from her wound was the same eerie blue, and her skin began to take on a similar, strange blue hue.

Hel stared at the blood she had just vomited, her eyes wide with shock.

"The venom that killed Thor, Jörmungandr's venom!" Svadilfari said calmly as he stood up and brushed himself off.

Hel turned to look at Svadilfari, disbelief etched on her face. "That's impossible! Jörmungandr vanished long ago. How could you have gotten your hands on its venom?"

"Simple. Jörmungandr bit the North Sea Kraken. I just had to find the Kraken, cut off the tentacle it bit, and extract the venom," Svadilfari explained, his tone indifferent.

"But that's not possible! The Kraken was bitten by Jörmungandr ten thousand years ago. Back then, you hadn't even been revived by Ogelmir yet. There's no way you could have..." Suddenly, realization dawned on her. She eyed Svadilfari with a cold, piercing stare. "Who are you?!"

"Ah, so you finally recognize your old friend, do you, Hel? Haha." Svadilfari grinned, and then, without warning, his entire body burst into flames.

"Of course it's not me." The figure that had once been Svadilfari, now engulfed in flames, laughed calmly. "Hræsvelgr saw through my disguise. But when Svadilfari was revived, I managed to insert a few remote backdoors that are nearly impossible to detect..."

Suddenly, Svadilfari's composure vanished, as if he had transformed into a completely different person. He let out a piercing scream, his body now a living, burning effigy. The flames that consumed him seemed to be eternal, refusing to be extinguished no matter how much he thrashed and flailed.

After what felt like an eternity, Svadilfari's screams ceased, and his charred body crumpled to the ground, reduced to ashes. As if guided by an unseen force, the smoldering remains swirled and shifted, forming a summoning circle with Svadilfari's ashes at its center. With a deafening boom, the circle burst into light, and from it emerged a fire giant, gripping a flaming sword and radiating an aura of raw, terrifying power. Flanking him were five more fire giants, each one exuding an equally intimidating presence.

Seeing these giants, Hel, who was severely poisoned by Jormungandr's poison, acted on instinct, reaching out to grab the nearest wheel. But before her fingers could even graze it, a towering, majestic fire giant snatched her up, holding her tiny form in front of him. She struggled feebly, like a dangling SpongeBob, her strength sapped by the poison coursing through her veins. All she could manage was a fierce glare directed at the giant.

"Surtr!"