Chapter Seven: Gods and Monsters
"As for what you think, I cannot answer. How can a god ally with a monster?"
Buri's answer was resounding. Before the monsters could even speak, Buri had rejected the proposal to form an alliance.
Surtur's expression darkened. He had toiled for so long, and this was all he'd unearthed?
He held the divine sword to Buri's delicate neck, his movements swift and decisive. The sharp blade gleamed coldly; with just a little force, it could easily slit Buri's throat.
The black dragon did not stop the fire giant. Upon hearing Buri's answer, the black dragon's pupils contracted, as if it had heard something unbelievable.
"O newly born god, do you truly not understand? The giant who now stands across the Kinggalon Abyss will become your mortal enemy. And in the not-too-distant future, he will personally tear your body in two, and you will die by his hand!"
The black dragon's words were sincere; if one didn't see the weapon hanging around Bully's neck, one would truly believe that the black dragon was thinking of Bully's best interests.
"If we unite, even the frost giants cannot withstand our might. After we successfully defeat Ymir, we will rightfully take over an entire world—not this desolate frozen wasteland, but a vibrant new world. We will become the masters of that world!"
The black dragon coaxed, "Then you will be the god-king of this world, with all things bowing before you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Buri raised his head, letting the scorching sword hover over his neck, and replied indifferently, "Black dragon, fire giants, so what?"
"My name is Buri. I am a producer. I cannot be a god-king, nor will I rule the world. I am the representative of good, destined to fight against the forces of evil. This is my innate mission. Ugly monsters, forgive me for not being able to ally with you."
"Even if you perish in an instant?"
The black dragon stared at the raised head before him.
"Even if I die in an instant."
Buri, the progenitor of the gods whose head was the only part of his body visible, replied.
"You say we shouldn't ally with evil forces, but this world has just been created, chaos is undefined, cold and heat are already clearly separated, but good and evil have not yet blended. How can you be so sure I am evil? Why can't I be good?"
The black dragon lowered its head, its tone becoming seductive. This ever-changing dragon was now trying to persuade the progenitor of the gods again.
Buri, however, was blunt.
"You're too ugly."
The black dragon tilted its head, not expecting such an answer from Buri.
"Beauty and ugliness are merely manifestations of perception. Without the contrast of ugliness, how can there be the word 'beauty'? Without the existence of darkness, how can the preciousness of light be revealed?"
"Beauty and ugliness are distinguished only by contrast. There are only a handful of living beings in the world today; I truly cannot fathom your standards for judging beauty and ugliness."
Buri remained silent, refusing to speak no matter how the black dragon tried to persuade him.
In the Kinggalon Abyss, accompanied by a sudden, rapid snore, the frost giant's body trembled violently, then, as if just awakened, he half-lay down, his hands tracing and stroking the cow's soft fur, enjoying the lingering pleasure of his half-asleep state.
"Time is running out, Nidhogg, this guy is useless, let's kill him!"
Surtur, seeing Ymir awaken, impatiently raised his sword, wanting to quickly kill Buri and then escape the Land of Mist.
The black dragon stared at the god before it, who seemed unafraid even of death, its dim yellow eyes filled with bewilderment.
Why not cooperate?
Just because he's ugly?
That's too hasty!
The black dragon halted Surtur's advances and said darkly to Buli, "Arrogant god, you judge beauty and ugliness according to your own will, arbitrarily driving away your allies, needlessly weakening your own power, and needlessly increasing the might of your enemies. I've never seen such a short-sighted god."
With that, the black dragon led Surtur away from the Land of Mist.
The cow Odembula opened its eyes contentedly, grazing on the salt flats of Niflheim in the Land of Mist. To its bewilderment, the warm salt water it usually licked upon waking was nowhere to be seen.
The brine only appeared after Odembra woke up, and in a day, it only produced a tiny amount, enough for a cow to sip. It was the first liquid the cow tasted upon waking, which she would always savor and ruminate on repeatedly.
But today, that rare treat was gone; there was nothing there!
The cow angrily licked the earth, turning the soil, grinding away the salt. With each lick, Buri's body grew larger.
Then, when Ymir awoke and climbed off the cow's back, Buri's entire body was revealed.
Buri stood on the salt flats, his tiny body unseen by the cow. Even with her frantic licking, the cow never saw Buri's head, for he was too small, indistinguishable from a grain of sand. But only Buri knew the immense power this body could unleash.
Buri spread his arms wide, and a white cloth, appearing out of nowhere, wrapped around his body.
What determines a god's appearance?
Buri looked at the ugly Ymir. The giants were now on their endless search, trying to find the poisonous insect that had poisoned him in the Land of Mist.
Ymir had a strong body, thick body hair, a large head, and a full beard. If one stood in the far north of the Land of Mist and looked up, a corner of his entire appearance could be seen.
From the perspective of mortals in later generations, he wasn't particularly ugly.
Buri shook his head slightly. A god's appearance was innate and unchangeable, as indestructible as his divine power. Only when a god's own heart changed would his appearance naturally change.
Ymir was ignorant and without consciousness, born from the moisture above the Kinggalon Canal. He was neither good nor evil; he was only eliminated because his very existence was a nuisance to the world.
But that poisonous dragon…
Blee thought of Nidhogg. That poisonous dragon was truly hideous to the extreme. Even though it hadn't attacked him yet, Britney could imagine the dark thoughts within its heart.
Nidhogg wanted to interfere in his battle with Ymir, causing them to both suffer heavy losses. Killing Britney now would mean losing the means to contend with Ymir, something the black dragon didn't want to see.
"Too bad, now is not the time."
Blee waved his hand, and the salt ground beneath his feet automatically parted, revealing a narrow crevice about the width of a person.
Blee walked step by step into the crevice, and when he reached the deepest part, the crack naturally closed.
Blee fell into a deep sleep again.