Here You Go, Ruda!

Aether gathered madly as fluttering runes emerged in the air, tearing open warped rifts glowing violet. Torrents of violent magical light surged out, washing over the surroundings.

In an instant, the Goddess of Winter appeared amid shimmering, iridescent hues, holding a staff made from a branch of the World Tree. Her pale violet gown billowed in the wind.

"My dear husband, shouldn't you explain..."

As she surveyed the empty hall and took in its solitary furnishings, Skadi realized someone crucial was missing. Her cold, accusatory voice abruptly stopped, and her expression stiffened.

"Where is he?!"

"Looks like..."

"He ran away?"

Anna and Scathach turned toward the empty throne, exchanging bewildered looks.

"Samael!"

A freezing roar shot into the skies above Mount of the God of War. Like the breath of Eternal Frozen Blizzard, it swept across half of Athens and brought bone-piercing cold.

At the same time, someone sprinting desperately beneath the moonlight first felt his heart seize and his body turn rigid. Then, carefully concealing his aura, he darted onto a mountain path through the dense woods, scrambling madly up and down as he accelerated, fleeing the scene of the crime at top speed.

What nonsense! If he didn't run, was he supposed to wait around to become snake stew for dinner?!

Only after he had gotten farther and farther from the main hall of Mount of the God of War did Samael, who had been circling through the forest, dare to lie trembling in the bushes. He cautiously checked his surroundings, confirmed there was no enemy movement, and finally began to relax. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he leaned against a tree trunk and let out a long breath.

Under the cool moonlight, Samael endured mosquito bites and the mountain wind as he looked back on