Watching Brunhilde effortlessly pin the Cyclops to death,
Everyone was stunned.
"Definitely a seventh-sense warrior."
"Could they be from the empire?"
"The kingdom is saved."
The king, witnessing the scene, trembled with excitement.
"Midgard's situation doesn't look good."
Kaiser eyed the Cyclops's corpse.
His brow furrowed.
A single Cyclops wasn't strong, but their numbers were a problem.
In Midgard, such mythical creatures were plentiful.
Born with sixth-sense Cosmo,
By adulthood, they automatically reached late sixth sense.
Seemingly weak, but if a hundred or two appeared,
Anyone would be overwhelmed.
Even the empire's capital, with seventh-sense warriors, would be stunned for a moment.
While seventh-sense warriors wouldn't be overwhelmed by numbers,
Some mythical creatures matched seventh-sense power.
Against them, human seventh-sense warriors held no advantage.
Unlike the Sanctuary,
With the Gold Cloth's enhancement.
At the same seventh sense, humans were weaker than mythical creatures.
No question.
Due to the World Tree's seed, the Norse pantheon's main gods, giant progenitors,
And divine beasts sent their minions to search for it.
A disaster for humans.
Unlike Earth, Midgard's humans lacked Athena's protection.
"What now?"
Killing a Cyclops was trivial for Brunhilde.
She turned to Kaiser.
"Let's wait."
"We need to understand the situation."
"Even if we leave now, we don't know where the seed is."
"I'm not ready to expose myself."
Kaiser understood her intent.
"Um… you two…"
"Are you from the empire?"
The king snapped out of his shock.
His priority was securing Kaiser and Brunhilde.
"No."
"We have no ties to the empire."
Kaiser shook his head.
Hearing this, the king grew even more deferential.
Unknown powerhouses.
At least seventh-sense warriors.
Casually killing a Cyclops.
To encounter such strength was a stroke of luck.
And neither Kaiser nor Brunhilde showed any greed for their kingdom.
It made sense.
What couldn't seventh-sense warriors have?
Why covet a small kingdom?
Over the next month, Brunhilde killed three giants and two beasts.
All mid-to-late sixth-sense mythical creatures.
"Their activity is increasing."
Kaiser gazed at the distant forest.
"Time to leave?"
Brunhilde seemed to read his mind.
"Almost."
"Reinforce the wall's Runes, and we'll go."
"Consider it payment for our stay."
Kaiser glanced at the castle.
Brunhilde nodded.
No issue.
Golden light enveloped the castle.
"The wall's Runes are being strengthened?"
"They're leaving."
The king saw their intent.
A small kingdom couldn't hold such powerhouses.
"Where to next?"
Brunhilde asked.
"The empire."
"More people, more intel."
"They're using beasts and mythical creatures to search for the seed."
"Why can't we use humans?"
"Midgard has plenty of strong humans."
"With enough incentive."
"They won't hold back."
"The seed isn't a secret."
"And it involves a divine war."
"Human warriors aren't fools."
Kaiser said calmly.
"My lords, are you leaving?"
The golden light faded.
The castle's walls were now heavily reinforced by Brunhilde.
Even a seventh-sense warrior couldn't breach them easily.
Maintenance was simple, requiring only Cosmo.
"We've stayed a month."
"The strengthened walls will protect you."
"Chaos is coming; prepare yourselves."
The king was deeply grateful.
Meeting such benevolent powerhouses was their fortune.
"Let's go."
Kaiser donned a platinum robe, its large hood hiding his face.
Brunhilde dressed similarly.
Following the king's coordinates, they left the castle.
"We were lucky to meet such kind powerhouses."
"The kingdom has a foothold now."
The king watched them fade into the distance, filled with emotion.
Only when Kaiser and Brunhilde vanished into the forest did he descend the walls.
"The Nine Realms' environment is quite nice."
"Shame it won't last."
Kaiser walked through the forest, sunlight filtering through.
It felt serene.
"Why say that?"
Brunhilde paused, puzzled.
"Too quiet."
"A forest with no insect sounds?"
"With mythical creatures running rampant."
"Likely a powerful creature took all the forest's beasts."
Kaiser shared his theory.
"A powerful creature?"
"The empire?"
Brunhilde caught on.
"Exactly. The empire might be facing a beast tide."
"They're either planning to wipe out Midgard's humans"
"Or enslave them to search for the World Tree."
Kaiser's eyes narrowed, considering the possibility.
In this situation, a human wave tactic would be more effective than searching alone.
And the World Tree's seed... every being above the seventh sense knew what it looked like.
Anyone who saw it would recognize it.
Even ordinary people, with guidance, could find it.
Humans, with their high intelligence, were easier to control.
And their numbers far exceeded those of beasts or giants.
"Just don't know whose idea this is…"
Kaiser had a hunch that heading to the empire might lead to his first real battle in the Nine Realms.
But with the Asgardians drawing attention, the pressure on him wasn't too great.
First-tier gods on the main battlefield were a massive deterrent.
He doubted anyone would send a first-tier god after him while Asgard's forces loomed.
Second-tier gods? He could handle those.
With that thought, Kaiser quickened his pace.
"Are we going to save the empire?"
Brunhilde looked at him.
"The empire's crucial right now."
"As Midgard's human hub, it can't fall yet."
"And with gods involved, those humans have no choice."
Kaiser replied.
In the empire's central city, the capital…
"Damn it!"
"Those lunatics!"
"They're insane!!"
The empire's general slammed the table in fury.
The capital and its nine satellite cities were surrounded.
Countless beasts and giants roared.
"The World Tree's seed has stirred up something big."
The old emperor sat high on his throne.
Utterly helpless.
In Midgard, the empire was undeniably the strongest.
But against united mythical creatures,
Even the empire faced extinction.
"Cyclopes, swamp giants, forest giants, water giants…"
"And those beast hordes."
"They really see humans as prey."
"There must be gods behind them."
The empire's archmage stood by the round table, equally helpless.
The empire had fewer than five seventh-sense warriors.
Against the mythical creatures outside, they were outmatched.
But the enemy encircled without attacking, even offering terms for negotiation.
This gave the emperor and his council a headache.
"If it comes to it, ask Asgard for aid."
"Earth is under the Sanctuary's control for now, so it's stable."
"With seven God Warriors, they could spare three or four."
"With Asgard's God Cloths and God Warriors."
"We might not lose."
The defense commander frowned.
The human situation was dire.
"No use."
"Asgard is tied up with Vanaheim, Helheim, Jotunheim, and Muspelheim."
"One misstep, and a divine war erupts."
"Asgard's God Warriors will prioritize those fronts."
"Not us."
The old emperor closed his eyes.
They were at a dead end.
"Surrounding without attacking... their goal is to make us search for the World Tree's seed."
"Compared to uncontrollable beasts and giants."
"Humans are the better choice."
The emperor saw through it.
But he was helpless.
Asgard had no spare forces for Midgard.
They were on their own.
"Humans! Still not decided?"
"Our patience is limited."
"So is that of the great gods."
A dragon soared in the sky.
Its seventh-sense power rippled.
The empire trembled.
Ordinary people huddled together, frozen in fear.
Whoosh!
A spear tore through the air.
"Who?"
The dragon reeled in shock.
It hadn't reacted in time.
"Damn it!"
"Roar!"
"Urgh!"
It tried to retaliate.
But the spear pierced its body.
Crimson blood rained down.
With a wail, it plummeted toward the capital.
"Who?"
"Killing a seventh-sense dragon in one hit?"
"A god descended?"
The empire's leaders sensed the anomaly.
They rushed to the city's heights.
Seeing the fallen dragon, they were stunned.
That dragon was a powerhouse among mythical creatures.
Tied to Niflheim's ruler.
Mid-seventh-sense strength, even the empire's elite couldn't guarantee a win.
Yet it was felled in one strike.
"Has a god descended?"
The emperor murmured.
Hum!
A Valkyrie's aura spread.
A demigod's majesty blanketed the land.
"A demigod?"
"Damn it, it's Brunhilde!"
Some beasts and giants recognized her.
One of Odin's children.
A demigod, but with steady eighth-sense power.
Among the strongest below true gods.
"She defied Odin's will and was cast to the mortal realm."
"Damn it."
"She's in the empire."
Recognizing Brunhilde, the beasts and giants paled.
Just as seventh-sense beings couldn't be overwhelmed by sixth-sense numbers,
Eighth-sense demigods were beyond their reach.
"Retreat!"
With no choice, they ordered a withdrawal.
"The beast tide's dispersing?"
The empire's leaders watched, eyes alight with joy.
"No need to finish them?"
Brunhilde's spear still gleamed.
"No point."
"It's not time to start a war."
"Acting rashly might draw out gods."
Kaiser shook his head.
These rabble, no matter how many, were useless.
In a divine battlefield, their shockwaves alone could kill droves.
No need to dwell on it.
Clad in golden robes, the two arrived beneath the empire's walls.
"Open the gate."
The guard atop the gate, one of the empire's seventh-sense warriors,
Had seen where the spear came from.
Lifting her hood, Brunhilde revealed her face.
"Lady Brunhilde?"
The guard froze, stunned.
A demigod descending at such a time was unthinkable.
"Let's go. I'll meet the emperor first."
Brunhilde replied coolly.
As a Valkyrie guiding human warriors and heroes,
Brunhilde was well-known.
Many human leaders recognized her.
Kaiser and Brunhilde entered the capital, where the empire's leaders had been informed.
They awaited them at the entrance.
"Lady Brunhilde."
"Welcome back to the empire."
The old emperor offered a warm smile.
"To business."
Brunhilde nodded.
In the capital's council hall, the empire's leaders gathered around the round table.
"You must know of the World Tree's situation."
"The Nine Realms are in an uproar."
"If this isn't resolved, the coming years will be filled with war."
"My purpose here is simple."
"Mobilize human forces to help me find the World Tree."
Brunhilde's gaze swept the table.
Kaiser sat silently beside her.
The empire's leaders fell quiet.
"Does Asgard know of this?"
The old emperor broke the silence.
"No."
"I've been exiled to the mortal realm by Odin."
"I have no ties to Asgard."
"But you know Asgard is too preoccupied to spare you aid."
"Work with me, and I can protect the empire and humanity."
Brunhilde spoke plainly.
This was Kaiser's suggested approach.
As expected, the empire's leaders fell silent again.
They'd already analyzed the situation.
They knew the score.
"Very well!"
"We'll cooperate with Lady Brunhilde."
The old emperor made the call.
Working with Brunhilde was better than enslavement by beasts and giants.
It would minimize losses.
This was a calamity sweeping the Nine Realms; they couldn't escape it.
With Brunhilde's protection, humanity could preserve some spark.
As a demigod, her strength was immense.
As long as Midgard wasn't the divine war's main stage,
Brunhilde could hold the empire.
The other leaders raised no objections.
They agreed to the deal.
"Smoother than expected."
"The force behind the beast tide did us a favor."
In their room, Kaiser removed his hood.
"Let's hope it goes as you plan."
Brunhilde was indifferent.
Her task was to follow Kaiser's lead.
***
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