In Britain, the Noble Phantasm: Divine Key

"A Valkyrie, choosing to escape reality over such a trivial matter? Was Odin dozing off when he created you?" Anan suddenly chuckled. "If that's the case, then I can understand why you became the sole survivor."

call out--!!

A golden spear struck like lightning, but Yanan simply turned slightly to the side and effortlessly dodged the attack.

Just as Slud was about to retract her spear, she was grabbed by Yanan. No matter how hard she tried, his large hands were as firm as iron hoops, and she could not break free at all.

Seeing the anger blazing in Slud's eyes, Anan chuckled, "What, you're not convinced?"

“I can disregard whatever you say…” Slud gritted her teeth, glaring angrily at Anan, “but I will never allow you to tarnish my honor as a Valkyrie!”

“Glory is something you prove to others through your own actions, not something you can just talk about.” Yanan looked at her coldly. “Unfortunately, I don’t see that quality in you.”

"What makes you say that!"

“Because you have already lost your qualifications as a Valkyrie!” Anahn said without hesitation.

“…” Slud stared blankly at Anan: “I…have lost my qualification as a Valkyrie?”

"If you don't believe me, try it yourself, Slud." Anan's tone was as calm as a still lake. "Can you still summon divine power now?"

Slud hurriedly mobilized the power within her body, but no matter how she called out, the powerful force that had been bestowed upon her by the great god Odin did not react in the slightest.

"Why...?"

“Valkyries are creations of the gods and possess the adaptability of the gods themselves. When you begin to doubt yourself, your divinity will gradually diminish until it completely dissipates,” Yanan said.

“How could this be…” Slud collapsed to the ground, utterly distraught, her eyes glazed over.

“Valkyrie are warriors who fight for the gods, the most steadfast warriors, fighters who will never give up because of a temporary setback, but you have abandoned all of that. How can you bear the glory of a Valkyrie?” Anan continued to provoke Slud with his words.

"Enough!!"

Slud screamed in despair, two streams of tears sliding down her beautiful face: "Do you think I wanted this! Father is dead, Slud is dead, Otlind is dead, everyone is dead! I'm the only one alive! I've been wandering in this dead world like a lost soul for thousands of years!"

"I have nothing left—no mission, no glory, no dignity... I have nothing left, so why won't you let me go...?"

Artoria remained silent, a complex expression appearing in her eyes.

“I understand your despair and your helplessness,” Yanan said. “If you truly feel that you have lost the meaning of continuing to live in this world, then I will give you this mission.”

He stretched out his finger and drew a deep green rune in the void that seemed to encompass all the truths of the universe. An ancient and vast aura caused the surrounding space to tremble slightly.

"This is... the primordial runes!?" Slud's eyes widened in shock.

Anan pushed forward, and the primordial rune slowly moved forward, merging into the round shield in Slud's left hand.

Om-! !

The round shield trembled slightly, and the rust on its surface quickly disappeared as if corroded by strong acid, revealing the golden divine patterns beneath.

Slud stretched out her trembling right hand and gently stroked the shield, tears streaming down her face.

Few people know the true significance of this round shield to the Valkyrie.

This is a weapon bestowed upon them by the god-king who created them; it is a shield forged from the strongest divine iron in the world, symbolizing the eternal glory of the Valkyries.

As long as the Valkyrie's heart remains steadfast, this shield will never break, nor will it be corroded by rust.

Slud looked up at the dignified old man in the mural and felt a strong sense of guilt.

I'm sorry, Father, I have let you down...

“The brilliance of the Divine Iron Shield has been restored, Slud, now it is your turn to make a choice,” Yanan said.

Slud took a deep breath, a determined look appearing in her deep red eyes.

She knelt on one knee and bowed her head toward Anan:

"Your esteemed primordial rune heir, Valkyrie Slud, I offer this body to you."

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Hero's Fate

Anan quickly accepted Slud's allegiance.

Whether it was out of some noble sentiment or not, after witnessing Slud's muddled and confused state for thousands of years, he did indeed have the idea of ​​wanting to free him.

So even if Artoria didn't say anything, he would still do it.

Because he knew he was capable of doing it, and that he was doing the right thing.

When someone is in trouble or confused, and you happen to be able to offer a way to save them, what is there to hesitate about?

Slud stood up again, her deep red, agate-like eyes filled with intense determination, instantly regaining her former heroic and valiant Valkyrie demeanor.

Artoria breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on her face.

“My lord, please give the order,” Slud said.

“Take us to the Rainbow Bridge first,” Yanan said. “I need to go to Helheim.”

“Yes.” Slud nodded, turned and walked ahead, leading Anarn and Artoria toward the Rainbow Bridge.

After about twenty minutes, the three of them finally passed through Valhalla and saw a vast and boundless sea in front of them. However, under the reflection of the sky, the sea surface also showed the same crimson color, looking like flowing lava.

That's the Rainbow Bridge.

Slud pointed ahead and saw a wide, long bridge made of crystal on the sea, large enough to accommodate hundreds of people walking side by side.

However, like other buildings, this crystal bridge is in a dilapidated state.

"What are those?" Artoria asked in surprise.

The Crystal Bridge was teeming with terrifying monsters. Some resembled giants, their backs covered in dark blue tentacles with teeth and eyes; others were lumps of fleshy aggregates, like exposed brains, writhing on the ground like insectoid falcons; and there were giant centipedes made of bone, their backs pierced with the heads of various creatures, their limbs replaced by human hands and feet...

These monsters, seemingly emerging from the deepest recesses of a nightmare, were surrounded by a thick black aura. Even from this distance, one could clearly feel the intense deathly aura emanating from them.

"When Ragnarok occurred, Hela, the Queen of the Underworld, used the properties of the Bifrost to open a path back to Asgard, sending in the undead of Helheim and the giants of Jotunheim and Muspelheim."

Slud's tone was calm and even, as if she were talking about something insignificant, but her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned slightly bluish-white.

"At that time, all the gods were held back by a powerful enemy on the main battlefield. In order to prevent Asgard from falling, the Valkyries and Enheria fought with all their might, battling the giant undead for ten days and ten nights until finally, they perished together."

"These creatures that died on the battlefield were corrupted by the aura of the underworld, and even their souls became depraved, which is why they have become what they are today."

"Does that mean these monsters are actually..." Artoria's eyes widened.

Slud lowered her eyes slightly: "Yes, this also includes those Valkyries and Enherias from the past."

"..."

Artoria remained silent. Who could have imagined that those warriors who once fought for their homeland would now be reduced to such a grotesque, inhuman state?

They were all respectable heroes in life, but their noble souls were trapped in this evil and blasphemous body after death.

This should not be the fate of heroes.

“Go, Lily,” Yanan suddenly said. “Go and let them find their final release.”

Artoria nodded solemnly: "Yes, teacher!"

With a leap, she used the power of the Wind King's barrier to quickly reach the front of the Crystal Bridge.

The monsters that had long since died were clearly unusually sensitive to the aura of the living. Almost the instant Artoria landed, they all stopped in their tracks and turned around to look at the blonde girl.

Like a beggar who has been starving for a long time seeing a steaming loaf of bread in front of him, the monsters rushed toward Artoria without hesitation, uttering all sorts of crazy and filthy roars and babbling.

Looking at these monsters that resembled demons, Artoria showed no fear. She reached out and Excalibur appeared in her hand.

"Seal Thirteen – Planetary Judgment Begins!"

"—!"

"This is a battle in pursuit of truth!"

Om-! !

Countless golden points of light surged in from all directions, rushing into the Excalibur like a storm, instantly raising the sword's aura several levels!

"Souls lost for a thousand years, please return to your rightful place!"

"Gathered from the breath of the stars, from the torrent of glorious life, take this, Excalibur!"

Artoria slashed the holy sword downwards, and a magnificent golden beam of light roared out instantly, filling the entire world with dazzling light!

"WARRRR————!!!"

The monsters let out extremely painful howls, their bodies being rapidly worn away as if they were being subjected to frost from flames.

After the monsters disappeared, they left behind pure white and ethereal figures. Some were human men clad in armor, while others were beautiful girls with wings on their heads. They looked at Artoria, smiled, and nodded slightly, as if to express their gratitude to her.

They glanced at the world around them, sighed with emotion and regret, and then vanished like the wind.

However, at this moment, two souls suddenly flew past Artoria and headed towards her back.

They were two Valkyries, identical in appearance and attire, except one had pink hair and the other had black hair.

They flew to Slud, their deep red eyes filled with warm smiles.

“Otlind... Hilde...”

Upon seeing these two incredibly familiar faces, Slud's eyes instantly reddened, and even her voice trembled slightly.

She reached out, wanting to touch her former best friend, but all she could touch was emptiness.

Upon seeing this, Slud's eyes dimmed instantly, and Otlind and Hilde also showed a hint of regret on their faces.

Suddenly, two crimson feathers fell from the void and merged into the bodies of Otlind and Hilde, making their figures much more solid.

"It's the last minute, so say what you want to say quickly," Yanan said.

Otlind and Hilde nodded gratefully to Anahn, then stepped forward and hugged Hilde on either side.

Feeling that familiar aura, Slud could no longer control her emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“There’s no need to grieve for us, Slud. Death is not the final destination,” Otlind said.

"Please believe that we will meet again in the promised future," Hilde said.

“I know…I believe you…I believe you…” Slud responded, weeping.

"Then let's agree on that."

Otlind and Hilde smiled as their figures gradually dissipated like bubbles.

Slud squatted on the ground, crying like a helpless little girl.