Chapter 1617 Niflheim III
"I see. It seems that I have already been weakened to the point that I could not even see through your illusions. To think that you would copy the image of your brother, Loki." The Goddess Freyja stated as the one in front of him was not the real God Thor but the God Loki.
"You actually managed to look through my disguise even though it was quite perfect this time." The God Loki stated as his disguise is lifted.
"Then again, the guards will not have the same level of respect when it is you that came to this area. You are not a proud warrior just like your brother." The Goddess Freyja stated.
"All your petty insults changes nothing because your precious children are here in the fortress. They are also locked inside of the dungeons just like you. They will be sent to the front line tomorrow and they will die if you do not give your blessing to the army.
I know how your blessings work, Freyja. You could have given individual blessings if you were still a high god but not in your current state. You should bless the army for the upcoming campaign or else your precious children would die." The God Loki stated with a smile as he transformed back to the God Thor.
The Goddess Freyja could not believe that the God Loki would resort to such tricks, but she should never expect less from the trickster god himself. She had no choice but to indeed bless the people that will go to war against the frost giants. If there is one thing that the God Loki is good at then that would be making sure that every threat is true.
"I pray that all of you will be safe, my children. Even if my power cannot assure your absolute safety, I pray that all of you would be safe enough to survive." The Goddess Freyja stated as divine energy left her body and spread to all of the beings in the castle.
"Sister!?" The God Freyr stated as he suddenly felt the energy that his sister often gives when a battle or war is near.
"I also felt it as well. The Goddess Freyja is indeed in the settlement." Frey stated as she could feel the energy from her goddess spreading near them.
Kanlaon is currently creating a snow cloak with them inside of it as they are just a hundred or so meters away from the castle. They were observing how the castle relay works as one of them would need to get inside of it should only a few of the prisoners they need to rescue be part of the upcoming battle. Adrian made this backup plan so that they would cover all the bases as unexpected things might happen in war after all.
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After three days, the sound of horns suddenly blared in the castle as the sight of Frost Giants started to be in sight of the scouts. The loud sound of clanging metal could be heard, and the fires of each castle pillar blazed high. The sound of war drums could also be heard as it served as a way to give focus to the upcoming warriors.
Frey is currently flying on Kanlaon as they observed the things that are happening below. She could see the Valkyries being escorted out of the compound, but it was not all of them. About half of them were escorted out of the compound with weapons while the other half was still inside the walls.
"It seems that they will send out the other half if the first half dies. These dirty bastards! Do they not feel sympathy for what my sisters did for them in the previous years?" Frey stated but she could not openly hate all of the people in the fortress because they are only following the orders of the gods.
A while later, a beautiful maiden in armor came out of the castle as well but she was also in chains unlike the other Valkyries that are just in slave collars. The Goddess Freyja was currently clasped with magic inhibiting shackles that makes her unable to muster any type of strength be it physical or magical. Frey could also see this and reported everything to Adrian as the war is already starting.
The Frost Giants could be seen twice as great in number than the previous war. The people of the settlement are alarmed of this, but they are not afraid because they have the God Thor with them. They also have the blessing of the Goddess Freyja although she seems to be reluctant in helping them.
The people in the settlement are not afraid but there is one god cursing this development. He did not expect that the number would be twice as much, and the arrival would be two days earlier. The God Loki could be said to be internally panicking because of the situation but he knows that he must keep up the act.
"Informant! Go to Asgard immediately and inform the other gods of the situation here. I do not want to shed all of the valiant blood of warriors here. We would need reinforcements as I am not enough to protect all of you if the worst situation arrives." The God Loki pretending to be the God Thor stated as he activated the Bifrost.
The informant immediately left as the number is indeed something that the current number of people in the settlement could handle. The God Loki had to reduce the restrictions on the slave collar as the Valkyries would need to fight at full power now that the situation is this dire. He also ordered for the remaining half of the Valkyries to be sent to the front lines as well.
"If you all do not wish to die with us then do your best. There is no use joining the enemy side because they do not listen to Asgardians after all." The God Loki pretending to be the God Thor stated towards the Valkyries.
"After I am done with the Frost Giants, the next thing my sword will slice up is your head." Brunhild stated with immense contempt and bloodlust towards the God Loki.
"You would have to survive this war first." The God Loki stated with a smug attitude.
The God Loki knew that the Valkyries cannot hurt him as he possesses the master key to their slave collars. They would not be able to kill him, but they might be able to harm him to the point of being weakened. Still, he would punish them by restricting their strength before that happens as it is within the ability as someone who holds the master key.
"Frost Giants move!" A three-and-a-half-meter tall frost giant commanded the other frost giants that were waiting for their orders.
Almost all of the frost giants charged like a raging snowstorm to the walls of the settlement. The prisoners of war which includes the Valkyries all braced themselves as they would be the first ones to be hit by this surge. Some of the prisoners of war already accepted their death while some hesitated to escape. Those that thought of escaping already knew that they could not because they were sent here via the Bifrost and would die after a few minutes in the harsh and cold environment of Niflheim.
"Sisters! Prepare for impact!" Brunhild shouted as she wanted to raise the morale of her sisters, but she also ended up raising the morale of the other prisoners of war.
The charging frost giants made the snow tremble, and they actually thread across the soft snow as if it was firm ground unlike the others that sink because of their weight. A battlefield that is not only disadvantageous to the Valkyries but also, they were not properly equipped. The Valkyries have endured worse, but this is the first for them to be forcefully given this situation and not by their choice.
"Ten seconds till impact!" One of the scouts shouted to the people in the settlement as the frost giants are now near.
If the vanguards or the prisoners of war could produce cold sweat, then they would have been sweating buckets right now. Just as the first wave of the frost giants were about to clash with the vanguard, a demon suddenly appeared between the two forces. The sudden appearance of the demon halted the advance of the frost giants while it made the people in the settlement stunned.
"Excuse me for a moment!" Adrian stated as he suddenly created a rift in space and swept all of the Valkyrie members away from the battlefield as he also vanished.
The frost giants and the people in the settlement were astonished for a moment but the commander of the frost giants shouted to continue the assault. The vanguard that was stunned in place were all blown away by the assault of the frost giants. The sudden disappearance of their only hope, the Valkyries, was the only thing giving them the hope to live.