“What is that fire giant?”
The American President couldn’t help but ask.
In the most secretive corners of the Earth's internet, heads of state from various countries were convening urgent meetings. Since the mysterious appearances occurred, nations worldwide have been gripped by tension. They were frantically researching technology, hoping to harness it to counter the supernatural forces at play.
Although the current situation appears discouraging, regrettable, and despairing, considering the technological resources available on Earth today, it is estimated that humanity would need several hundred years of development at the very least to even remotely compete with the mysterious forces in the realm of the occult.
Moreover, in some domains, even the most optimistic scientists dare not guarantee success. This includes areas of supernatural involving resurrection and the realm of the soul, where Earth's technology has made no substantial progress.
However, Earth's inhabitants need not underestimate themselves. Even advanced civilizations like the Terran Civilization have limited knowledge of the soul's domain. They initiated an invasion of San Soliel just to unlock the secrets of the soul.
It’s not that humans on Earth had no results after their hard work. For instance, the holographic projection technology developed in a relatively short period has become practical and even found civilian applications, winning acclaim among enthusiasts of various fields, including anime aficionados. Furthermore, the military projection technology employed by governments had reached levels akin to those depicted in movies.
Even though leaders from various nations are currently scattered across the world, with many likely taking refuge in subterranean nuclear shelters, thanks to these cutting-edge technologies, they can communicate as if they were meeting face to face. Furthermore, within their respective holographic images, they can observe experts from their nations diligently perusing documents behind their leaders.
"Didn't you hear what was said earlier? The Antarctic expedition team has provided us with answers. They discovered a city beneath Antarctica that resembles Atlantis, encountered ancient beings, and even entered a cosmic spaceship belonging to the elder things. They also encountered the deep ones inside the spaceship. Most importantly, the fire giant we see now should have been imprisoned beneath Antarctica. It is a being of Nordic mythology. We have no idea how it suddenly awakened!"
The Russian President made a sarcastic remark towards the President of the United States.
The President of the United States felt a bit embarrassed. In fact, he had paid close attention to the briefing from the Antarctic expedition team. However, in the past, everyone would react with fear when encountering these mythical creatures, questioning who they were. Who would have thought that now everyone seemed to take it in stride? It just goes to show how adaptable humans can be.
‘I was just asking casually,’ The President of the United States felt somewhat wronged as he felt the disdainful stares of the various world leaders.
Without the need for further prompting from the President of the United States, a scholar of Norse mythology provided detailed information, "We believe that the fire giant is Surtur. Surtur is recorded in both the 'Old Edda' and the 'New Edda.' I believe many of you have heard of the term 'Ragnarok,' which represents the fall of the Aesir gods and the rise of human civilization. Surtur is one of the culprits that triggers Ragnarok. I won't go into complexities, but to put it simply, in mythological accounts, this fire giant possesses the power to destroy the world!"
The experts' brief statement left many people in a state of bewilderment. They exchanged glances, each displaying their concerns. It seemed like there were an unusual number of individuals intent on destroying the Earth lately!
While world leaders were in discussions, which didn't yield any particularly useful results, back on the Antarctic continent, Surtur, who had just awakened from beneath the ice, roared in the direction of Cthulhu.
With the appearance of this fire giant, the temperature on the entire Antarctic continent began to rise rapidly. Glaciers were already melting. Observing this scene, the leaders of various countries turned pale. They no longer doubted Surtur's ability to destroy the world. The giant didn't need to do much; just walking around the Antarctic continent, causing the ice to melt and raising sea levels, would be enough to wipe out a vast majority of humanity.
"Perish, you filthy and twisted abominations!"
Surtur, like the symbol of his flames, was a highly temperamental deity. He glanced at the thousands of Shoggoths on the Antarctic continent and then at Cthulhu, who was uttering horrendous words on the ice. These monsters were utterly repulsive and grotesque, completely at odds with the beauty of this world. Surtur directly pulled out the infamous magic sword from Norse mythology, Laevateinn, from the magma!
“OHHHHHH!!!”
The terrifying god who heralded the twilight of the gods raised the sword in his hand. In an instant, the entire sky over Antarctica turned blood-red, transforming from polar night into polar day, illuminating the entire world. Those who witnessed this miracle were left dumbfounded. While this scene was somewhat different from the time when the Torch Dragon turned night into day in Tokyo, the fiery clouds created by Surtur were even more awe-inspiring.
Following this, the fire giant inserted the flaming magic sword into the glacier beneath him. Endless flames began to spread from him as the center. The Shoggoths emitted piercing screams. These creatures, with tenacious vitality that could withstand even a direct hit from a ground-to-air missile, were all reduced to ashes under Surtur's sword.
Viewed from space, the southernmost tip of the Earth appeared as a radiant red, as if the entire continent was engulfed in flames.
“Bullshit! What is that thing!”
“Damn!”
“It’s over!!!”
“The world is ending!!!”
“We should build an ark first!!”
“Quickly send out the emergency evacuation signal!”
“It’s too late for that!”
"Everyone, get on planes and head to higher ground, preferably the Himalayas!"
“......”
As the leaders of various countries were observing the situation in Antarctica, they let out fearful cries. This fire giant from Norse mythology, the harbinger of the twilight of the gods, had caused a display of power that far surpassed any other mythical figure seen before. With a single swing of his sword, Surtur had set the entire continent of Antarctica ablaze!
The consequences of this event were catastrophic. Coastal cities would be instantly submerged, and vast stretches of land would turn into ocean!
"This is the legendary sword from Norse mythology, where the gods are destined to fall, and gods die, but it will never be defeated!"
A scholar who had studied Norse mythology murmured in a near-tearful voice. He was not a young man, and seeing Surtur, witnessing the fiery magic sword that could bring about the end of the world, made him feel that his life was not in vain.
Just as the world leaders were preparing to cut off communications to make their escape, something incredible happened at the location where the evil god Cthulhu resided. The ocean began to roar, the temperature of the burning Antarctic continent dropped rapidly, and the seawater turned into steam, which then condensed into rainwater. Under the horrendous incantations of Cthulhu, this rainwater turned into solid ice, halting the melting of Antarctica. For a moment, Surtur and the malevolent deity Cthulhu achieved a strange balance.
"I remember there was a theory in the Cthulhu Mythos called elementalism, and Cthulhu represents 'water' among the elements. Just from this perspective, he and Surtur are indeed natural enemies."
Someone whispered.
The world leaders exchanged puzzled glances and temporarily halted their evacuation efforts. At this moment, a leader muttered, "Comrades, I now support the evil god."
“I also support the evil god!”
“Hail… Cthulhu!”
“You idiot, you can’t say that!!”
Although the outcome was somewhat dramatic, the people present were embarrassed to admit that Cthulhu, the fearsome malevolent deity, had just saved all of humanity! Without his power to contend with Surtur, freezing the Antarctic continent once again, the entire human civilization might have faced extinction.
Not all of humanity would have died, but the consequences would likely have been a return to the darkest and most primitive eras of human existence.
However, there was still a sense of foreboding in the hearts of the onlookers. Whether it was Surtur or Cthulhu, the power they exhibited seemed to be unusually overwhelming. None of the past mythological figures had affected an entire continent in such a profound manner. Could it be that these gods were now closer to Earth than ever before?
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