Chapter 42: The Emergence of a New World

When destruction reaches its climax, nothing remains but silence—
a silence so deep it seems to whisper ancient promises yet to be fulfilled.

There was a time when gods believed they could command fate.
When wars were fought under sacred names, and blood was the currency of balance.
But even the mightiest learned that the world does not belong to them…
and the price of forgetting that truth can be catastrophic.

Now, upon the ruins of what were once nine worlds, something new begins to emerge.
Not a glorious rebirth, nor a triumphant victory—
but a pause.
A deep breath after the storm.
A moment suspended between loss and reconstruction.

Not all live to witness it.
But those who remain carry in their hands the seed of something new.
They don’t know if they’ll plant it well, nor if it will grow without rotting.
But they know they must try.

In the eyes of those still walking this shattered earth, there is fear—yes.
But also fire.
The fire of those who have lost everything… yet still choose to move forward.

Because even when the skies split open, when the pillars of the world collapsed,
and truth itself was torn from its roots…
a small flame endured.

And that flame—
is hope.

The clouds had not yet fully cleared, but something in the air felt different.
Among the wreckage of a civilization broken by war, a new conversation began—one that could change everything.

“It can’t be true…” whispered Afrodita, her eyes locked on Isaac.

“You’re serious?” asked Shun, his tone firm. “This isn’t a game, Isaac.”

“I know,” said the young man, nodding, his gaze fixed on the ground. “I’m ready to face the consequences.”

Shun studied him for a moment in silence. Then he raised his hand, and ethereal chains rose from the ground, wrapping around Isaac—not violently, but with authority.

“Even if you’ve chosen to surrender, I can’t let you roam free. You’ll stay here for now.”

“I understand.”

Afrodita folded her arms, still in disbelief.
“I still can’t believe you were capable of all that…”

“It’s hard to process,” admitted Shun, “but if what he says about Loki is true, I’m not surprised. That guy would do anything to reach his goals.”

“Yes…” murmured Afrodita, lost in her own thoughts.

“For now, all we can do is wait for reinforcements,” added Shun, turning away.

“Seems that way,” Afrodita agreed.

A figure approached with confident steps. Silver hair, pointed ears, and a firm expression left no doubt about his lineage.

“You’re Shun, right?” asked Elsif.

The pink-haired man eyed him for a moment.
“Yeah. What’s going on?”

An elf still alive? I thought none remained around here, Shun thought.

Elsif pulled out an object wrapped in cloth and handed it to him.
“I was told you can read runes. Loki asked me to give you this.”

Shun unwrapped the cloth and stared at what lay inside. His usually carefree expression tightened for just a second.
“This is…”

Several days later.

When the storm had finally subsided and the rain brought with it an eerie calm, the group gathered before the remains of the Yggdrasil.

“Why did you bring us here?” asked Afrodita, frowning.

“Yeah, I’d also like to know what I’m doing here,” grumbled Nai, scowling.

“Quiet. I’m thinking,” murmured Shun, his eyes fixed on the tree trunk.

“Yeah, yeah… whatever you say, oh wise one,” scoffed Afrodita.

From the side, Elsif watched with a faint smile, arms crossed.
Is this really the great Shun you told me about, Loki? Because all I see is a lucky idiot, he thought.

“Is anyone going to answer me?” Nai pressed.

“Silence, brat,” snapped Afrodita without looking at him.

“Fine, fine…”

A snap. Shun raised his fingers and clicked.
“Got it.”

“What did you just find?” asked Afrodita, crossing her arms.

Without answering, Shun walked toward the dead trunk of Yggdrasil. He stopped before it, studied it carefully, and raised his fist.

“What the hell are you planning to do?” Afrodita shouted.

With a single, sharp, powerful strike, the trunk split into countless fragments.
A cloud of dust rose around them, revealing the impossible—

A hidden hollow.
A perfectly carved passage beneath the roots of the tree.

“Well, would you look at that… guess I was right,” said Shun, grinning with satisfaction.

Afrodita pressed a hand to her forehead.
“Idiot.”

Shun turned and raised an eyebrow.
“So… are you coming?”

One by one, they descended through the hollow revealed beneath the trunk of Yggdrasil.
The initial darkness was soon replaced by a faint, warm green glow until the group reached the bottom.

Before them, a cavern opened like a forgotten sanctuary.
Inside, flowers unknown to any realm glimmered with an impossible vitality for a world freshly destroyed. Ferns hung from the rocks, and at the center rested two large, ornate wooden coffins.

“What is that?” asked Elsif, unable to hide his confusion.

Shun stepped forward, gazing upon the scene with a mix of reverence and resignation.
“The future of humanity.”

Afrodita frowned.
“The future? What do you mean?”

“It seems Odin had already considered the possibility that a catastrophe like this could happen. So he left these two… prepared,” explained Shun, without taking his eyes off the coffins.

“You’re saying he knew?” Afrodita shot back, incredulous. “If that’s true, then why didn’t he do something to stop it?”

“He tried,” Shun replied, his tone heavy with bitterness. “But he chose the wrong path. What he believed was right… wasn’t.”

Elsif stayed silent, though his gaze hardened.
So he only wanted to prevent destruction? I don’t buy it… there’s something more behind all this, he thought.

“Well,” Afrodita interrupted, shaking her head, “how do we free them?”

Shun turned toward the youngest of the group, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
“That’s where you come in, thunder boy.”

“Thunder boy…?” Nai raised an eyebrow. “Me?”

“Do you see anyone else throwing lightning around here?” Shun replied dryly, pulling out a small dagger as he approached.

“What are you—hey!” Nai yelped as Shun made a quick cut across his palm.

“Relax, it’s nothing serious,” Shun said with casual ease. “The rune said only someone with Odin’s blood could break the seal. And unless I’m mistaken, you’re the only descendant here.”

“I’m not the only one! There are still others alive, idiot!” Nai protested, clutching his hand.

“Oh, right… my bad. I forgot,” said Shun, flashing an innocent grin.

The group stared at him in dead silence. Even Afrodita rolled her eyes.
“Seriously…” she muttered.

“Well then,” Shun continued, pointing to the coffins, “put your hand on them.”

“Fine…” Nai grumbled.

The moment his bloodied hand touched the wooden lids, a soft radiance began to flow from the runes carved into the surface. An invisible chain snapped with a faint click, and a gentle tremor rippled through the chamber.

“Looks like we did it,” said Shun.

The lids slid open slowly, releasing a luminous mist.

Two human figures emerged, covered only by their skin.
They stepped forward weakly, breathing with difficulty, as if awakening from a slumber that had lasted millennia.

Back to the present

“At that moment,” recounted Afrodita in a calm voice, “we met Lif and Lífthrasir… Odin’s final creations.”

Edén listened silently, processing every word.
“I see…” he murmured. “So a lot happened while I was unconscious.”

“Yes,” confirmed Afrodita. “That’s right.”

“Can I talk to Isaac?”

“Of course. I think it’ll do him good to see you.”

“Edén!” shouted Shu from the doorway, rushing in to hug him tightly. “Thank goodness you’re okay, idiot! We were all worried!”

“That hurts!” Edén grimaced.

“Sorry, sorry…” Shu laughed. “Want me to carry you?”

“Yeah. I don’t think I can walk properly yet.”

Carefully, Shu helped him up, supporting him by the waist as they walked out.

“I still can’t believe everything they said about Isaac,” Shu muttered.

“Yeah… it’s hard to believe,” Edén replied. “But tell me… do you really think he’s the villain?”

“Huh? Where’s that coming from?”

“Forget it…”

As they walked, Edén slipped a hand into his pocket. A sudden memory flashed through his mind.

Flashback

Loki, smiling with unsettling calm, leaned close to him.
“Good luck, little god,” he said, slipping something into Edén’s pocket.

Back to the present

Edén pulled out the object—a small necklace.
Why did he give me this…?

He opened it. Inside was something far more than a mere ornament.

“This… can’t be real,” he whispered.

“What is it?” asked Shu.

“Nothing, don’t worry about it…”

“Well, we’re here.”

“Can you leave us alone?”

“Yeah, of course.”

Shu stepped away, leaving Edén standing before the cell where Isaac awaited, a tired smile on his face.

“Long time no see, demon. I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Isaac…”

A dry sound, like glass shattering in slow motion, rippled through the entire camp.
The massive magic barrier surrounding the area burst into a thousand invisible fragments, disintegrating with a muted whisper.
From within the glow, three figures emerged—each wrapped in a pressure so dense that even the air seemed to stop moving.

Isaac lifted his head with effort, his face pale.
“W–what… what is this?” he whispered. “I’ve never felt a power like this before…”

Afrodita instinctively stepped back.
“This energy… it can’t be…”

From atop a crumbling structure, Shun frowned, as if recognizing an old enemy.
“Oh, come on…” he muttered in annoyance. “I asked for captains, not that bastard.”

The three newcomers touched the ground in perfect synchrony. Their faces finally came into view—Shiva, Rafael, and Ares.

Shun exhaled sharply, unimpressed.
“Perfect. Someone clearly messed up the delivery.”

Sun Wukong appeared beside him, grinning widely.
“Long time no see, captains.”

Shiva ignored the greeting.
“Where is the one responsible for all this chaos?” he asked flatly. “Give us everything you know.”

“How boring…” Shun sighed, scratching his head. “Cheer up, it’s not every day the world breaks apart.”

Rafael stepped forward, his expression as sharp and unchanging as ever.
“You haven’t changed at all, insignificant human. Still just as detestable.”

Shun smiled, clearly delighted by the provocation.
“What a surprise—seeing the captain of the First Division here. I thought you only moved on orders from the king.”

“That’s none of your concern. This is a high-risk operation. My presence is required.”

“You still have that ridiculous habit of unleashing your full power the moment you arrive.”
Shun gestured toward the trembling soldiers nearby.
“Try to be more considerate—some of them can barely breathe with you around.”

Rafael narrowed his eyes… and in an instant, his energy vanished as if it had never existed.
“The first sensible thing you’ve said.”

“Thanks,” said Shun, shrugging.

Ares stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Shun.
“Where is my son?”

“So you were well informed,” Shun replied, unfazed.

Sun Wukong raised a hand.
“Sorry. My fault…”

“Follow me,” added Shun, turning on his heels. “I’ll take you to him.”

Minutes later, the group stood before Isaac, who remained seated, still bound by magical chains.

Ares stared at him in silence.
Isaac met his father’s gaze… then looked down.

“Father…”

Shiva gave a small nod.
“Shall we begin the procedure?”

Rafael pulled out a scroll and read in a firm, unwavering voice:
“Isaac Yoi. Son and disciple of Ares. For the numerous crimes committed over the past months—including murder, terrorism, and rebellion against the king—you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment in Prison Dynasty.”

Isaac swallowed hard. His eyes darted from Rafael to Shiva, and finally to Ares.
But what he found in his father’s face was not compassion. Not even disappointment.
Only emptiness.

“Father… tell my sister that I love her.”

The response cut deeper than any blade.
“You are no son of mine.”

Isaac froze, eyes wide.
The air grew heavier.

Shun stepped forward, his shadow falling over Ares.
“Hey, Mr. God of War…”

“You dare speak to me, insect?”

There was no time for more words.
Shun’s fist connected squarely with Ares’s face, sending the god of war crashing to his knees.

“That’s no way to treat your son, you piece of trash.”

Ares rose in fury, ready to strike back—but a hand stopped his arm.
“That’s enough,” said Rafael firmly. “Next time you try that, I won’t show mercy.”

Shun didn’t move an inch.
“I don’t like threats. If you want to start something, go ahead. But I wouldn’t recommend picking a fight you can’t win.”

“You talk too much for someone weaker than me, human.”

Both began releasing their energy, the ground cracking beneath their feet, the air fracturing like glass threads.

“Enough, you idiots!” roared Hades.

His voice shattered the tension, obliterating both auras in an instant.

“It’s time to go. Let them carry out their mission.”

Shiva stepped toward Isaac, clasped glowing chains around his wrists, and lifted him effortlessly from the ground.
“Let’s move.”

The three captains left without another word.
Ares was the last to turn away—he never looked back.

“Don’t think I’ll thank you,” muttered Shun toward Hades.

“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for him,” Hades replied. “If the two of you had fought, there were only two possible outcomes: one would die… or the other would be destroyed.”

“That’s not two options,” Shun frowned.

“Got a better one?”

“…Not really.”

Hades crossed his arms.
“Well, I suppose it’s time to return to Greek.”

“Yeah… I’ll go get the others,” Shun said, turning toward the residential quarters of the camp.

He walked calmly until he reached one of the rooms.
Knocking lightly, he called out,
“Hey, Edén. It’s time to—”

He opened the door.
Empty.

The room was completely vacant.

Shun narrowed his eyes.
And for the first time in a long while—
he stopped smiling.