Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2823 - 2824: The Two Fire Giants

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Amidst a blazing volcano, two giants with fiery red auras and crimson skin clashed. The ground beneath them cracked and exploded, while the skies trembled. Their exchanges of flames, divine might, and cosmic power seemed unparalleled.

One had once been a Troll, evolving into his almighty fiery form—a God of Flames, an Oni Giant wielding two blazing axes. Cosmic egos bonded to his soul overflowed with cosmic and spiritual power, resembling starlight flames. He was known as one of the strongest direct servants of Kireina, the almighty and unparalleled warrior: Truhan.

His opponent was an almighty Titan of Flames, born in Muspelheim, son of Ymir, the Primordial Titan of Genesis. A wrathful King of Flames and an Ancient Being, he had reached the level of Supreme God thanks to his bond with Ruby, one of the Spiritual Plane Queen's sisters, who had chosen him as her vessel: Surtr.

Truhan and Surtr had connected the moment they met, after Kireina and her allies defeated the Divine Spirit Beasts that attacked them while roaming Abyss. Freyja, Gerd, and Surtr, alongside their vast armies, had all pursued Odin with the same goal: to defeat him and exact revenge for what he had done to them.

Yet when they clashed against the Spirit Army and seemed to break through, a mysterious Insectoid Spirit General defeated them, implanting Spirit Beast Parasites into their bodies and forcing them to mutate into creatures that Kireina and her family had to destroy.

Years had passed since then inside Kireina's Cosmic Realm. Surtr had more or less recovered completely and was now treading closer to the realm beyond World Devourers, honing his techniques, movements, skills, and attacks with Truhan, who had already reached the early stages of the Star Eater Realm.

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

RUMBLE!

Both giants battled as the volcanoes erupted and the ground shook, neither yielding. Each strike helped them further evolve their Auras and Powers, deepening their understanding of the Dao of War, Battle, and Fire.

"Hahaha! What's wrong, Truhan?! Feeling tired today? You're acting awfully sluggish!" Surtr mocked him as he clashed against his friend.

Truhan groaned angrily, easily provoked. He swung his axes, but Surtr intercepted with a blazing hammer, pushing him back.

RUMBLE!

"Tsk! Even though my Realm is superior to yours, how are you still so strong?!" Truhan complained.

"Well, it comes with living as long as I have!" Surtr laughed. "You aren't even a hundred years old, are you, Truhan? I've lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Every year I've accumulated Elemental Particles and sharpened my Blazing Weapon Style! I never relied on the System as a god of my caliber, since I received little to no help back then. Even now, with the new system assisting us so much, I tend to ignore it!"

"Why?! The System has helped us all grow stronger—why must I ignore it?!" Truhan roared. "It's what allowed me to evolve to this level!"

"Perhaps. But it has also held your hand the entire time, facilitating your growth more than it should!" Surtr reprimanded, slapping Truhan's head and kicking him into a volcanic sea of boiling magma.

SPLAAASH!

"Grrrr...!"

Truhan emerged from the magma, roaring angrily, his eyes blazing. Spiritual Energy, Cosmic Power, and Divinity merged as he flew back into the skies, clashing once more against Surtr.

"Become my apprentice, Truhan! Learn the Divine Blazing War Weapon Style and ascend with me!" Surtr roared. "If you rely only on the System, you'll never catch up with true fighters like me!"

"Tsk! Kireina-sama granted us the System. To ignore it, to leave it aside, is sacrilege!" Truhan roared, punching Surtr in the face and swinging his axes, striking the titan into the volcanic sea. "Haaa... Haaa..." He felt slightly proud for pushing his rival down, only for Surtr to emerge unharmed, grinning.

"That was weak—I barely felt it! The more I fight and adapt to this heat, the stronger I become, while you rely on that artifact for everything! Truhan, you must train your heart, soul, body, and mind without its assistance. You must forge your own power, independent of the System!" Surtr declared. "Only then will you ascend beyond its limits."

"The System has no limits! It has allowed me to grow endlessly!!!" Truhan roared, crashing against Surtr, only to be slapped in the head again and thrown down.

"Is that so? Well, look where that's brought you! Gahahahaha!" Surtr laughed, mocking him. "Perhaps it was useful when you were mortal, but now that you wield Cosmic Power, you must walk your own path! How else will you protect your wife and children when war comes knocking? Kireina won't protect you forever!"

"I am not being protected—I am her guardian, her protector!" Truhan fought back, explosions of flames surging everywhere.

"If that's true, why does she keep you holed inside this Cosmic Realm, doing nothing but training? To me, it feels like she worries about you and prefers you stay here instead of acting on your own!" Surtr laughed. "Admit it—you're afraid to separate from her, afraid to walk alone!"

"T-That's not true!!!" Truhan screamed, but the more he shouted, the more he felt like he was lying to himself. "That's... not... not true..."

He stopped fighting, staring at his hands, his eyes widening as tormenting questions filled his mind.

How much of the strength I wield is truly mine?

How many of these skills, stats, abilities, or even these cosmic ego weapons were earned by my own effort, and not facilitated by the System?

How strong would I be if I stripped myself of my System Status? What would remain of me?

Surtr crossed his arms and smiled warmly, patting Truhan's shoulders. He was much older, and though they seemed rivals, Surtr was wiser—more like a master figure, perhaps the first Truhan had ever had.

"Surtr... no... Lord Surtr..."

"Yes, son? Have you finally decided?"

"Yes... please take me as your disciple!"

"Gahahaha! That's what I like to hear!"

Surtr laughed, patting Truhan's shoulders. Then suddenly, he heard a voice echoing within his mind and heart.

It was strange—he had never been spoken to in such a way before. It carried a consciousness beyond anything he had achieved.

"Surtr, are you there?"

"Oh, Kireina? Yes, I am here!"

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