Van's loud gasps whispered through the air as he seemed to have shot down from the skies. His gasps also seemed to have an audience, as there were a couple of giants in the perimeter of the empty field that he landed on. A few hours ago, the number of the giants doing what Van was doing numbered almost the whole population of the Ash giants. But after watching Van fall and fall again, most of them just quickly went home.
Those who were left, however, were cheering him on to continue as this was their only source of entertainment.
What Van had been trying to do for a few hours now was to check if he could reach one of the 8 Realms beyond the sky. He managed to pass through Jotunheim's atmosphere, further proving that he was not inside a Portal. The Fragmented worlds from the Olympian's universe had some sort of invisible dome acting as a barrier, while this one did not.
However, not even a quarter towards the other realms, Van found himself unable to breathe, with his lungs feeling like it was about to explode any time soon if he does not return to land.
Van honestly thought that he would be able to do it, as he remembered that in all of his dream sequences, not only the Olympians but also the Seraph, were able to breathe in the vast expanse. So why is it that he couldn't? Was there something else he needed to unlock?
He tried to open his System once more, but alas, nothing was popping up. But since he could still absorb crystals, just how exactly would he place his Status Points? How would he even know if he levels up?
He had been in this world for almost a week, and he was still as clueless as before. He hadn't also gotten the chance to absorb some Souls, as there wasn't anyone to kill in this place. He wanted to test the dwarves, but since there was still the fact that there seemed to be something going on between the races, he chose not to instigate any problematic situations.
"High Human Van, please rest for a while."
Van's thoughts were then disrupted as he was handed a cloth by Lorei, who was actually living with the Ash giants. She was stationed here to supervise and guarantee that the Ash giants do not miss their deadlines and to offer them assistance if needed.
Based on the colorful arrays of giants Van had seen in the market, there were at least 5 giant races here. Two being the Ash giants and, and Frost giants like Lorei. And even though their skin was of distinct colors, they all seemed to be working along with each other.
Perhaps because they have shared the oppression of the Aesirs, they no longer had any time to discriminate amongst each other.
"How is it, how far did you reach this time?"
"Not far."
Van could only shake his head and sigh as he wiped the sweat on his face with the towel given to him by Lorei. It looked like a handkerchief in Lorei's hand, but with Van, it was a full bath towel.
"Still... even though I have not seen a lot of Aesirs or Vanirs in my life. I know that what you're doing is incredible, even amongst their standards," Lorei said as she looked at the sky, "Most of them would need to pass through the River just to reach beyond the sky but you, you do it so flawlessly... and not to mention so fast."
"Hm," Van only nodded as he let out a wry smile, "How are the others?"
"Still the same," Lorei let out a sigh of her own, "Ever since the Gate exploded, they refused to work anymore. Most of them are gathering their weapons, even though they know they can't win."
"How are you so sure that you can't win?" Van said as he sat on the ground, trying to rest for a while before he continues to try and reach one of the other Realms.
"They have already destroyed the gate. Whatever attack they will be doing, it will be from afar... we won't even get the chance to fight."
"Are you sure that the one who destroyed the gate truly was from Asgard?"
"You said the old man stood in front of the River to Asgard, that could only mean that he is from there."
"Hm..."
The two then suddenly turned their heads down in silence. Why does it seem that wherever Van goes, there was a war? Perhaps the only peaceful place that Van had gone to was Africa. Is war... truly never-ending?
"Anyway," Lorei broke the silence as she started to turn around, "I reckon the Branch will be here in a day or two. But it would be best to travel tonight, as there would surely be a lot of people lining up to ride the Branch, especially now."
"Right," Van nodded before looking Lorei from head to toe. The idea of carrying her once again resurface in Van's mind, but once again, he quickly scrapped the idea. After Lorei had gone, he tried to test how far he would be able to travel outside the realm a couple more times, before ultimately failing once more.
***
"We should not have destroyed the gate!"
"Calm down, Victoria. What's done is done."
"Then take me there!"
"You know I can't carry you out that far. How many times are we going to have this conversation?"
Inside what seemed to be a manor made of wood, Victoria, who looked to be at the same age as Andrea now, was talking to his father, Charles, the old man that Van had seen before the explosion.
"I need to know if you weren't just seeing things, father."
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There was a certain frustration in Victoria's voice, echoing through the dim halls that were lit only by the candles that were dancing on the wall. She could not help but stand up, pushing the seat she was sitting on as she proceeded to walk back and forth.
"Why only now?" She whispered.
"How old did he look!?"
Charles almost jumped from his seat as Victoria suddenly slammed her hands on the table, "What do you mean?"
"How old did he look!? How long do you think he has been in Jotunheim!?" Victoria once again slammed her hands on the table.
"I don't know!" Charles had no choice but to answer her daughter with a shout of his own, "He's a god, he could be tens of thousands of years old now for all we know. He always looked like a little kid!"
"He... still looks like a little kid?" Victoria then sat back down as she heard her father's words, "Is it actually possible that he only got here now? Wouldn't that mean he knows nothing of this world? Of what happened?"
Hearing the sedated words coming out from Victoria's mouth, Charles could not help but let out a small but deep sigh, "Why do you care so much about him, Victoria? For all we know he caused all of this to happen. Your mother--"
"Don't talk about mother," Victoria did not let Charles finish her words, "You are the one who abandoned her."
"I had to make a choice, Victoria! You and your friends were the ones who I found first!"
"Whatever lets you sleep at night, father. We don't even know where she died, how she died... when exactly--"
"Enough, Victoria."
This time, Charles was the one who did not let Victoria finish her words as he stood up, "Nothing changes. We need to finish what we started... not even the appearance of Van could stop this. And if he chooses to side with them, then he too will die."
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"..."
"Come, Harvey and the others are waiting for us," Charles then proceeded to walk away, "Nothing changes, Victoria…
...the gods will die."
Victoria could only look at his father as he opened a huge door. And as soon as he did so, the chatter and conversation of the people inside quickly entered Victoria's ears. Victoria hesitated to follow her father in, but as soon as she met the eyes of one of the men that was inside, the man quickly excused himself and ran towards her.
"Vicky, you're not joining the meeting?" The man had golden hair, with his beard only slightly darker, "Did you and Charles fight again? Your quarrels seemed to have multiplied lately. Is something wrong?"
"I-- No, just the usual argument, Harvey."
In truth, Victoria was planning to tell Harvey and the others about Van's existence. But now that she was in front of him, something inside of her made her stop. Her father had only seen Van for a split second before he teleported… what's to say he just saw someone who looked similar to him? And so, with that thought, Victoria just chose to shake her head and follow Harvey inside.
"It's happening, Vicky," there was a sense of thrill in Harvey's voice, "After a hundred years, our plan is finally coming into fruition!"
Harvey let out a slight chuckle. But before he could step inside the hall, Victoria grabbed his wrist.
"I have a question," she said.
"...No, I still love my wife."
"What? No!" Victoria quickly let go of Harvey's hand as she looked at him with disgust. But afterward, the expression on her face died down, "What if… just what if…"
"The suspense is killing me, Vicky."
"What if Van was alive and happened to be with the gods?"
"..." Harvey blinked a couple of times before looking to the side, letting out a long and deep sigh as he seemed to ponder Victoria's question. But after a few seconds, he looked Victoria in the eye and said…
"Is that even something you need to ask?" Harvey let out a small chuckle, "If Van was with the gods…
...Then I will not hesitate to kill him."