IBHJ Chapter 822

Glodvarr, seeing their attempt to escape, let out a furious roar. "Don't even think about disturbing the king!" he bellowed, thrusting his flaming sword towards Shirou's retreating figure. However, before the blade could find its mark, a gleaming sword intercepted it with a clang, knocking the weapon away.

Glodvarr whipped his head around, finding himself staring down the gleaming blade of Excalibur. Artoria's unwavering gaze met his as she leveled her sword at him. "I understand your dedication, but I won't let you interfere with my king either."

...

Shirou and Skadi rushed to the peak of the World Tree, where raging flames spread as far as the eye could see. Amidst the inferno, a giant was using his own blood and soul to build a road of salvation for his kin. It was none other than the king of giants himself, Surtr!

Gazing at the burning flames, he turned to Skadi. Without a word, she understood his intention. How could she not? Slowly raising her hand, palm facing the raging flames, her eyes flashed as she unleashed her surging Divinity. Fierce winds and heavy snow immediately engulfed the scorching flames, burying them beneath a frigid blanket.

Surtr let out a heavy sigh, then spoke with a voice filled with both helplessness and admiration, "So you've finally made it here. For a human, you're quite remarkable, Eternal King."

"Compared to you, who's been plotting and scheming for 14,000 years, what I've done is nothing," Shirou calmly replied.

Surtr's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he studied Shirou. "You know, I've always been curious about you. Even with my plans coming together, you continue to oppose me at every turn. It reminds me of that human from 2,000 years ago who rallied a group to resist my every move, constantly trying to foil my plans."

Suddenly Surtr furrowed his brows, a glimmer of recognition crossing his eyes. "As I thought, it seems we've met before."

Shirou nodded, his mind wandering back through the dream world. "Hmm, it's possible. You once secretly manipulated the giants to invade pan-human history. We probably crossed paths back then."

Surtr's gaze intensified as memories from 2,000 years ago flooded his mind. He had entered pan-human history in search of Bergelmir and faced a determined group led by a man who bore a striking resemblance to the one standing before him now. Though the current Eternal King looked stronger and more battle-hardened, there was no denying they were cut from the same cloth. And right there by his side, just like in the past, was Skadi.

A sudden realization hit Surtr, and he couldn't help but laugh. "So that's how it is! The same guy who fought against the giants back then is standing against me once again. This damned fate sure has a twisted sense of humor! Is this Odin's idea of a joke?"

"Eternal King-" Before Surtr could continue his rant, Shirou pointed his lance at him. A beam of light shot out with a whoosh, blasting towards Surtr at incredible speed.

"Unfortunately, I have no interest in hearing your nonsense."

From behind Surtr, a burning construct in the shape of a dragon appeared, roaring as it intercepted the incoming blast. The fiery beast was blown to bits, unable to completely stop the starlight's powerful attack as it kept rushing toward Surtr, though slightly slowed down and weakened. Another flaming dragon emerged from the inferno, its wings spread wide as it flew straight toward Shirou. However, before the fiery dragon could reach him, Skadi raised her hand, and the snow on the ground, driven by her divinity, swirled up and twisted into an ice dragon.

The two dragons, one made of gleaming ice and the other engulfed in scorching flames, collided in mid-air under the radiant glow of the starlight, creating an absolutely stunning display that seemed to split the entire sky into a mesmerizing three-colored world. The three energies interacted and tangled with each other in a dance, and then, with a thunderous roar that shook the ground, they combined into a single, powerful force, shooting straight up into the sky, painting it in vibrant shades of color.

"!!!"

Hinako's eyes widened as she saw that breathtaking sight, her teeth clenched in anger and shame. The dazzling starlight was all too familiar to her, having encountered it at least twice before. There was no mistaking it—this was the handiwork of none other than Eternal King, the very same man who had assaulted her in Fuyuki and then fled like a coward.

"That bastard," she muttered under her breath, her gaze locked on the radiant display above. The memories of their previous encounters flooded her mind, fueling her determination to confront him once more. She couldn't let him get away with this, not after the humiliation she had endured at his hands. Still, now was not the time; someday she was going to make him pay for this.

Gao Changgong sighed, "Master, you said everything you were thinking out loud! Please mind your manners."

Hinako ignored his words, her mind already shifting to another matter. "Speaking of which, where did that Morgan run off to?" she asked, her tone a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "That idiot, her beloved king appeared, yet she's nowhere to be seen. Hmph. Forget it, I'm not going to bother with her."

...

Sixth Seat and Demonic Bodhisattva turned their attention to the vibrant burst of mana surging into the sky.

"Surtr has already begun to clash with Eternal King and Skadi."

Sixth Seat glanced at the mana explosion shooting into the sky, then turned to Mordred, who had a serious look on her face. With a smirk, he said, "Time for us to deal with this pesky little brat on our end. Your Grail can't control Kiara's mind anymore. Do you think you have any strength left to resist?"

He commanded Shudde M'ell and its eldritch tentacles, mockingly staring at Mordred. This brat had disrupted his plans over 1,500 years ago, allowing the legend of Eternal King and Eternal Kingdom to live on, leading to Eternal King's birth, and had even taken away his Grail. Unforgivable.

After reclaiming the Grail, he had to kill her, erase every trace of her existence all the way to the Throne of Heroes, and destroy all evidence that she ever lived! Sixth Seat laughed. Hearing this, the corner of Mordred's mouth curled up, unfazed.

"Crack, crack, crack..."

Suddenly, a series of cracks, resembling the one Shudde M'ell had created, appeared in the sky as space itself shattered like a spider's web, the fractures rapidly expanding until they formed a gaping chasm. In the next moment, a colossal giant emerged from the crack, its immense form casting an ominous shadow as it heavily smashed down on the burrowing worms. With a deafening "bang," the mountain-like body of the giant crushed half of the Chthonians who had started emerging after Shudde M'ell's arrival, their twisted forms ground into the earth beneath the giant's immense weight.

Sixth Seat and Demonic Bodhisattva were stunned, caught off guard by the giant's sudden appearance. In a quick motion, the giant's palm pierced through Sixth Seat's body, the impact sending shockwaves that sent Demonic Bodhisattva flying through the air before crashing heavily into a nearby iceberg. A moment later, she crawled out of the crater, wanting to cry but finding no tears.

Although being hurt was another way to indulge her desires, the way she experienced and enjoyed those desires had become a bit twisted because of the other Kiara's existence. Moreover, even if she was into being dominated, only being dominated by sexy, high-quality men like Mr. Assassin could give her that delicious masochistic pleasure. How could a giant possibly make her feel anything good?