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Chapter 404 - The Warm Darkness

As Lilith was deployed to fight the first giant monster and Asten went after the second:

Lilith said, "Void Magic: Summon Abyssal Gates!" As the chains from the Abyssal Gate kept it in place.

Lilith said, "I will end you. Holy Relic: Orb of Dominance!" As she tried to attack, the monster vanished, and on the ground was Lichee.

Lichee said, "Come at me, Lilith."

Lilith said, "It's you. Why are you siding with Liebe?"

Lichee said, "I'm doing the right thing. I will beat you here and now."

Lilith said, "You are far too weak."

Lichee said, "I have the power of time on my side. No matter what you do, you can never kill me. You can't even mortally injure me, because in the end of the day, we are the same person."

Lilith said, "Don't goddamn fool yourself." As she charged towards Lichee.

Meanwhile, with the second monster:

Asten said, "Gradient Magic: 12 Shades!" As the slash attack sent the monster crashing to the ground. Horn revealed her true self.

Horn said, "That giant form was simply too much."

Asten said, "Who are you?"

Horn said, "Unfortunate you saw my true self. You are only the 9th person who knows. It appears I can't allow you to live through this."

Asten said, "Well, that is unfortunate. Gradient Magic: Phase Strike Slash!" As it hit Horn, Horn was behind him, and rather it was Asten who had a slash on his cheek.

Asten said, "How did you—"

Horn said, "Unfortunate. I was aiming for the neck. It appears I can't hold back as much as I prefer. I will show you grand magic the likes of which you have never seen before."

Meanwhile, in the drainage, Liebe was dreaming of a winter story night. Domr was stroking a fire. A 5-year-old Liebe walked up to Domr and tugged on his cloak and said, "Grandpa, Grandpa!"

Domr said, "Yes, little Liebe? What is it?"

Liebe said, "Tell me a story." As he put Liebe on his lap while sitting in his chair next to the fireplace.

Domr said, "What story do you want to hear tonight?"

Liebe said, "I don't know. Something cool."

Domr said, "Alright then. Want to hear the story about Loki?"

Liebe said, "Tell me, tell me!"

Domr said, "Mikill—a nation of giant warriors. A nation covered by war and snow. It is said that the nation is covered eternally by night as snow storms rage on. None in Mikill can feel the cold, as they are all eternally blessed by the warm darkness."

Liebe said, "Snow storms, warm darkness, eternal night... what are those?"

Domr said, "Hold a moment, Liebe. I will get to those. At the heart of Mikill lies the World Tree—a tree so large it lies at the center of the island, and its upper branches lie above the lower atmosphere, so high you can't see the top. The ground and underground below the World Tree itself—the dark, vile god Loki lies, the only living god, the one who killed Odin. As he remains chained to the roots of the World Tree, encased upon layer upon layer of ice. It is said when he will finally leave Mikill, he will bring dawn to Mikill. Then Mikill will finally be able to witness the blazing sun. As Níðhöggr and the God of Darkness meet, Mikill will enter a war. As the great God of Darkness shall descend upon Mikill. And for that reason, every month for a day, all warriors in Mikill fast and pray to the God of Darkness. As Loki meets the God of Darkness, the harshest battle of Mikill shall begin."

Liebe said, "Grandpa, why is Loki called a vile god?"

Domr said, "Well, during my time, I heard about him. He was the one who killed the All-Father Odin and the God of Thunder Thor. It is said he had long hair, has horns, and wears a metal Viking helmet."

Liebe said, "Have you actually ever met Loki, Grandpa?"

Domr said, "Once I had the opportunity to meet him, and he didn't seem so bad."

As Liebe said, "Maybe I can be his friend."

Domr said, "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Lilith said, "And I punched him in the face and one to the gut." As Tenebris pulled Lilith's ear and said, "Stop putting violent ideas in our son's head."

Lilith said, "Sorry, sorry."

Tenebris said, "Son, try to be friends with him, alright. If he says no, what will we say?"

Liebe said, "Please?"

Tenebris said, "That's my boy."

Lilith said, "Punching him seemed more effective."

Domr said, "I don't know what to do with you. You literally ended up breaking Loki's chains, and he went on a rampage for 3 months because of you until I had to put him back myself."

Lilith said, "I mean, punching him does sound more effective for making him become Liebe's friend."

Domr said, "Is that because—if that's the case, I don't see a friend of Liebe that's about 500m tall, larger than our mansion, do you?"

Lilith said, "No. But look, punching him was so effective. The Empire made me a Prince of Hell, and you became a prince higher than the Knights of the Round because you put him back. So what's the issue?"

Domr sighed and said, "Liebe, choose your own path and become friends with Loki."

Liebe said, "Alright, Grandpa. I want to see him, and maybe I will offer him a candy bar for becoming my friend."

Domr said, "That's the spirit."

As Lilith picked up Liebe, Lilith said, "Do whatever you feel right, OK? The world is a big place. You will have plenty of fun in Mikill and more than enough time to enjoy it. I'm sure there are people out there who will love you for who you are, and you are so adorable." As she was playing with Liebe.

Liebe said, "Don't poke me, Mommy. I'm ticklish."

Licht said, "Liebe, wake up."

Liebe woke up and said, "What is it?"

Licht said, "Were you dreaming?"

Liebe said, "Yeah, a dream."

Licht said, "Was it the Mikill one?"

Liebe said, "Yeah."

Licht said, "The battle has begun. Lichee is fighting Lilith, and Horn is facing Asten. We should go."

Liebe said, "Yeah."

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