Surtr's first act upon reviving was to throw back his head and let out a long roar, as if announcing to the world that he had returned.
The giants throughout the Scandinavian Lostbelt answered with roars of their own, welcoming their king's return.
Surtr's second act upon reviving was to seize the branch of the Fantasy Tree that had yet to retract, then open his mouth and devour it.
It was a perfect demonstration of what it meant to burn the bridge after crossing it, repaying kindness with betrayal.
The Fantasy Tree had intended to perish together with Surtr, allowing him to completely destroy the world.
It certainly had not intended for him to devour it first, so it struggled desperately.
But no matter how it struggled or wailed, it could not change the fact that it would be consumed first.
The devouring process was so fast that it ended before anyone could react.
At that moment, the ruler of the Lostbelt changed. Surtr evolved into Surtr Fenrir.
Skadi looked at the evolved Surtr Fenrir. Was this the enemy who had driven another version of herself to despair?
Indeed, against an enemy like this, it was practically impossible for her current self to win while preserving the Lostbelt.
And if she could not preserve the Lostbelt, what meaning was there in defeating him?
No wonder her other self had made such a choice. It was not that she had not wanted to struggle, but that struggling had been futile.
After finishing his absorption of the Fantasy Tree, Surtr Fenrir raised his Flame Sword and slashed toward Village No. 23, where the magical energy reaction was strongest.
Everyone reacted quickly as well. Those with shields raised them, those with barriers deployed them, those who could use Runes used them, and those