IBHJ Chapter 824

The normally expressionless frost giants all displayed bloodthirsty, frenzied smiles. One of the frost giants, his face contorted with savage madness, stepped forward and sneered at the dying generals.

"Surprise!" he cackled, his voice dripping with venom. "How does it feel to be on the receiving end of betrayal? To have your trust shattered like fragile ice? This is the pain we endured over two thousand years ago, and now, it's your turn to suffer."

A fire giant general, his life force fading rapidly, struggled to speak. "But why?" he rasped, "The king... he promised prosperity to the frost giants. He gave his word!"

Another general, his eyes blazing with fury and disbelief, sputtered in rage. "You... You treacherous scum! You'll pay for this! You'll all pay!"

The frost giant merely laughed, a cruel and hollow sound. "Empty promises and hollow words," he spat. "Your king's assurances mean nothing to us. Today, we take our revenge, and the realm of fire shall burn in the icy flames of our wrath!"

For many years, Bergelmir had been privy to the happenings of the world, despite his self-imposed isolation and endless torture within the fire cage. His secret connection with Hel, who controlled the former frost giants' land and commanded some frost giants as subordinates, provided him with a constant stream of information. It was this knowledge that led him to believe that if Eternal Kingdom hindered the fire giants' path, Surtr, desperate and short on time, would definitely come to him for help.

To secure Surtr's trust, Bergelmir had endured his own hatred and returned Surtr's arm and four wheels, a calculated move designed to convince Surtr of his sincerity. Little did Surtr know that this was all part of Bergelmir's twisted plan.

"Surtr will definitely go crazy," Bergelmir muttered to himself, a manic grin spreading across his face. "He'll completely lose it, just like I did when I saw Saver's massacre of the frost giants!"

Unable to contain his glee, Bergelmir threw his head back and laughed. "HAHAHAHA!" His laughter grew louder, more unhinged, as he savored the thought of Surtr's impending breakdown.

The other frost giants, caught up in his madness, joined in his laughter. Their cackles bounced off the fallen giants, a chorus of unrestrained, maniacal joy. What could be more satisfying than watching the enemy who had brought about the demise of their people crumble under the weight of their own despair?

"HAHAHAHA!" Bergelmir's laughter reached its peak, his eyes wild with hatred and twisted delight. "Surtr, you fool! You have no idea what awaits you! Soon, you will know the true depths of despair, just as we have!"

Along with Bergelmir, all of the frost giants continued to laugh, their minds consumed by thoughts of revenge and the impending downfall of their hated enemy.

Surtr's betrayal and scheming had led to the death of all the frost giants in Pan-Human History. The remaining frost giants were driven by a thirst for revenge, a burning desire to make Surtr pay for what he had done.

They endured hunger and despair, not daring to openly attack human villages for fear of drawing Skadi's attention. They even forced themselves to speak words of respect for Surtr and acknowledge him as the Giants' King, despite their disgust. Every night, as they remembered the destruction of their people, they had to swallow their pride and shame. The humiliation they endured for the sake of vengeance was the only thing keeping the frost giants going, the only thing stopping them from ending their own lives out of guilt for trusting Surtr and causing their kin's massacre.

"Come out, Kraken!" Bergelmir shouted. "I'm here to fulfill our agreement! I've gathered the giants you love to feast on, all of them, just for you!"

He had sacrificed all the fire giant generals, using their flesh and blood to create a massive summoning circle.

The massive circle pulsed with a sickening, bloody light as a series of sputtering sounds echoed through the air. Suddenly, a colossal monster burst out from the center of the circle.

Even from a distance, Salter couldn't look away. She stared, transfixed, at the gory scene before her: the enormous magic circle made of giant corpses, and the huge, Cthulhu-like creature that had appeared right in the middle of it.

...

The wind howled in Shirou's ears as Surtr's blade, Lævateinn, slashed down from above. The scorching flames and sharp edge of the sword assaulted Shirou's face, and he struggled against Surtr's killing intent.

Suddenly, Shirou's eyes flashed, and a dark glow emanated from his chest. Black mud converged, forming a sharp sword that swiftly pierced towards Surtr's abdomen. The mud's attack was lightning-fast, and the angle was tricky, nearly catching Surtr off guard.

However, Surtr managed to retreat just in time, leaving the black mud with nothing to strike. What should have been a perfect sneak attack ended up falling flat. But this wasn't surprising, considering Surtr's cautious fighting style. Every time he made a move, he focused more on being careful rather than going all-out on the offensive. This approach made sneak attacks and surprises less effective against him.

Shirou looked at Surtr, frowning. None of the enemies he had faced until now were as unique as Surtr. Not Crimson Moon, Vortigern, or even Gilgamesh. Surtr was incredibly wise, with a broad vision and perspective that made him the most troublesome enemy he had encountered so far.

However, as Lævateinn continued to melt, its blade nearly gone, Surtr's aura plummeted drastically, leaving him much weaker. Yet, instead of sadness, Surtr's face was filled with joy.

The final path leading to Pan-Human History was finally forged! The ten-thousand-year wait had come to an end! Looking at the successfully completed sky road, even someone as rational as Surtr couldn't help but feel excited.

Without hesitation, Shirou's hand closed around Rhongomyniad, his eyes locked on Surtr's head as he raised the lance without a second thought. The weapon came alive with a dazzling starlight, its brilliance fueled by the surging mana. The blast shot straight, cutting through the air with a piercing whistle.

Surtr felt the searing heat at his back, and his instincts screamed at him to move. He threw himself to the side, his body straining to dodge the incoming attack. But even as he moved, he knew he was a bit too late. The spear slammed into his left shoulder blade with a deafening "boom," its heat tearing through flesh and bone, and the impact sent shockwaves through his body.

Surtr clutched his mangled shoulder blade. "It seems you've been waiting for me to show an opening," he remarked, acknowledging Shirou's keen observation of his momentary emotional lapse.

Shirou shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't believe in the existence of perfection."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Surtr's mouth. "Neither do I," he admitted. "I only believe in the existence of flawed perfection, not in the existence of true perfection." He paused, "Take me, for example. In the eyes of all the giants, I am perfect. But only I know the truth – I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable giant among my kind."

Surtr let out a heavy sigh. "They all say I'm wise, but in the beginning, I couldn't even distinguish between salt and snow. It took countless lessons, repeated ten times, a hundred times, before I could remember it clearly." He shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "They say I'm powerful, but in the beginning, I nearly..." His voice trailed off.

Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. "The strength that others see in me is actually a recognition of my own weaknesses. It was through relentless training, time and time again, humbly seeking advice and learning from others, and constantly analyzing my shortcomings that I gradually improved, step by step."