Clockwork Bride

Page 330

“It’s very simple,” Hayden replied. “My original idea is not quite the same as the so-called infiltration. First, you need to inform Eden and tell her not to go out for the next few days and not to be seen by anyone.”

Odin nodded: "That's not difficult. And then?"

Then he saw Hayden transform as well. He held a fragment of Angela's aura in his hand, and his body began to change, gradually becoming a tall, mighty, and majestic... frost giant.

"what?"

Odin was momentarily stunned.

Then she saw the Loki brothers take out a golden chain with a black leather collar and gently put it around her neck.

"All right."

Hayden said happily,

"Next, I will become the giant who captured you, and accompany you, my prisoner, to the land of giants!"

--------------------------------

The so-called land of giants is, of course, just a simple and convenient name.

Whether they are native gods or fallen angels, they have never been of one mind, and therefore the nations they established are scattered throughout the world. The group that borders Asgard and is most at odds with them has its capital in the ancient city of Vienna.

This place is a capital of pleasure and culture, a city of glory! For thousands of years, no city in northern Europe has been able to rival Vienna's grandeur, magnificence, and splendor! For it has always been a bright beacon of culture in the shadowy, ignorant, and violent northern lands!

—At least that's what the European gods claimed.

Regardless, the city's rich history is undeniable. From the ancient fortifications built by the gods and nobles over millennia, to the monuments that have withstood various political changes, and the countless buildings constructed by the giants during their centuries-long reigns, Vienna's historical heritage is truly omnipresent. The cobblestone streets, the flowing water along the canals, the shops and residences lining the winding streets, and the many towers that stand throughout the city—all contribute to Vienna's rich history.

Honestly, even by Hayden's standards, this city is beautiful—the kind of beauty that comes entirely from historical accumulation, without any architectural planning. The houses are built haphazardly, many streets were never marked to begin with, and most have long since lost their signs. But each house is interesting on its own, and together they naturally form a vibrant urban landscape. Almost every street is bustling with shops, spectacles, and a cacophony of sounds.

It is organized chaos, a vortex of colors and sounds, endless, day and night.

The trade-off is that the city's operational efficiency will be far worse than that of Asgard, a city planned by Odin with a ruler, and it will be impossible to develop arcane industrial city magic—industrial city magic requires a planned city layout to form a magic circle. How can you possibly create a magic circle in a city as chaotic as this?

Hayden transformed into a three-meter-tall frost giant, dressed in a magnificent robe, swaggering down the main street of Vienna, looking around and admiring the sights. Many other giants, just like him, elegantly dressed nobles and ladies, all gods, strolled through the streets of Vienna, chatting happily with one another.

Meanwhile, the poor mortals, shackled and chained, trudged wearily through the streets. Ragged beggars stretched out their broken bowls, pleading for even a single coin.

Odin, disguised as Eden, was imprisoned by Hayden in a huge iron birdcage, with golden chains binding her neck and wrists. She angrily gripped the iron bars of the cage and shook them violently, convincingly portraying her captive status with remarkable acting skill.

However, she wasn't entirely acting, which is also a problem.

"Why am I made to dress like this, being dragged around like a public humiliation?" Odin was initially very dissatisfied.

However, Hayden told her, "Being seen openly by everyone makes it less likely to leave any flaws or troubles."

Then, pulling Odin, who had become Eden, along with the city's inhabitants, they marched forward with solemn steps. They walked along the city's main thoroughfare, heading towards the grand palace in the city center. The dark gates were now in sight.

The Grand Palace of Vienna stands at the end of the road, perched atop a hill, a colossal structure built entirely of red stone. A thirty-meter-high wall encircles the entire palace and hill, designed to deter unwanted visitors. The walls are adorned with numerous carvings of cruel fallen angels and terrifying monstrous deities dating back to ancient times. The massive entrance resembles an open maw, its heavy door studs like its teeth.

A gilded dome adorned the palace, and every day, a large number of mortal servants were responsible for scrubbing the stones and polishing the dome, making the entire palace gleam. A constant stream of guests visited the palace daily—all coming to pay homage to the true god-king of the north and hoping to gain His favor.

The fake giant Hayden pulled the fake Eden to the front door, then shouted, "Help!"

His volume was no less than that of a winter blizzard, echoing all around, truly the roar of a giant.

"My name is Loki! I am a descendant of royalty from the East! I have captured Eden, the sorceress of the traitorous mortals of the North, and have specially brought her to present to the esteemed King of the North, His Majesty Azazel!"

As Hayden shouted, he unconsciously released the aura of a high-ranking fallen angel, an ancient god. Sensing this aura, the other gods and giants around him were all taken aback, and their gazes toward this stranger changed.

Where did this aura come from? First of all, Hayden is, after all, the son-in-law of the highest-ranking fallen angel. Secondly, if Angela uses the Secret Fire Shard well, it's absolutely enough to fool these demons and Nephalem like fools. This is genuine angelic power!

No wonder the tightly closed palace gates soon opened a crack. Accompanied by the sound of chains pulling pulleys, the black gate creaked and moved. This was a gate that would require at least ten giants to pull together.

A giant in a black tailcoat emerged from the doorway. Wearing a monocle, he gave Hayden and the imposter a serious once-over, then raised his voice: “Silence! His Majesty Azazel is speaking with His most beloved son, Threm, King of the Frost Giants! You must not disturb Him at this time!”

"What are you saying!" Hayden immediately yanked on the golden chain in his hand, causing the fake Eden to let out a melodious scream. He then pointed at the cage with exaggerated gestures, looking very convincing. "I've come to present a gift to His Majesty Azazel! You can't just leave me standing here at the door like an idiot with this gift in hand! Do you know who I am? I am the son of the King of the East!"

The giant steward clearly didn't want Hayden to go in. However, after carefully examining the fake Eden in the cage, he was secretly surprised—they all knew what the leaders of those mortal rebels in the North looked like. This Eden looked like the real deal!

"Alright, enough of that! Lord Loki, I will now take you to see His Majesty Azazel."

He beckoned, leading Hayden and the fake Eden into the palace.

He failed to see the cold, gray light hidden beneath the fake Eden's eyes, nor did he anticipate the trouble these two "guests" would bring.

411: The world's ethics will collapse.

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412: Azazel of Power

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413: The Failure of the Fallen

Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, is known as the "creator of giant widows" and is the artifact that killed the most giants in the wars in northern Europe.

While its most important core function is actually weather control and natural environment control—after all, without it, Asgard would truly starve—Odin and his comrades also incorporated a function to specifically damage the giant gods when developing and creating this hammer. This is because the giants are indeed the most numerous of the northern gods, making this a very reasonable targeted design.

In just over a decade, tens of thousands of giants died under the hammer Mjolnir. No wonder many giants feared him like the plague, and would flee in terror at the mere sight of Mjolnir.

However, this fear was limited to giants.

"Come on! Mortal magicians! One-eyed Hanged Man, madman, sorcerer—Odin Paulson! You are allowed to challenge me! I will trample you, ravage you, and then fulfill my life's ambition!"

The ram-headed demon spread its arms and roared loudly!

There was no trace of laziness or lethargy in him, and his previous pleasure-seeking attitude was completely gone.

Odin! The leader of the rebels in the North [Asgard]!

Azazel, though arrogant, also "admired" this group of traitors who were truly capable of causing trouble. Odin, even within the divine society, was a notorious leader of traitors. A great traitor, as the opponent of the mighty God-King in a one-on-one duel, was barely worthy of His esteem; no further criticism was needed!

This fallen angel is serious now; he's determined to defeat Odin decisively! Completely defeat him, both physically and mentally! Once Odin is utterly defeated, all of Asgard will eventually kneel at Azazel's feet!

"Humph."

—However, at the same time, Odin was also considering something similar.

Within seven steps, one can rival a nation.

Now, he and Azazel are only twenty or thirty steps apart.

"Odin!"

Hayden Rocky was also shouting from the side.

"I'll help you deal with the other giants! Let's go on a rampage together, squashing them indiscriminately!"

Then Hayden charged at the fleeing giants with a cacophony of cackling sounds and began to bully the pitiful giants.

As for Azazel, he would naturally pass him on to Odin.

Odin is still in Eden's form. When he sees Hayden running away to clear out the mess and leaving the real one to her, he wants to curse inwardly, but he doesn't complain too much.

Actually, she already had Thor's hammer back in her hand, and Hayden had given her a strange chestnut for escaping. She could just throw it on the ground and run away!

However, on the other hand, if Azazel, the Northern God-King, could be defeated here, the gods of northern Europe would surely be plunged into chaos. Asgard would then be guaranteed a better and more promising future!

It is absolutely worth the challenge, absolutely worth the fight.

Odin has always been a gambler, willing to put everything on the table for a "better future"! He'd gamble everything—his own life, even the fate of his people—doing everything in his power to seize what he could and place it on the board. Which Asman man wasn't a gambler?

No need to hesitate, fight!

"【Tiwa-z】!"

She chanted the incantation of battle, accelerating with the hymn as she charged straight at Azazel! Mjolnir swung out once more, and she became like a ball of lightning!

This strike was absolutely enough to kill a giant god.

...However, Azazel was not a giant, and Thor's hammer had no effect on him. Unfazed, he faced Odin's challenge head-on, and instead did something truly terrifying—Azazel actually raised his manhood to block Thor's hammer!

The two collided with a deafening roar, like a drumstick striking a gong. The fallen angel's penis, as elastic as rubber yet stronger than steel, remained completely unharmed after being struck by Thor's hammer!

Azazel, a name that can be translated as "divine power" or "divine tenacity" in ancient languages. But who would have thought that this fallen angel could be "tenacious" in this way?

Unfortunately, Mjolnir is Thor's signature weapon, and Odin didn't bring any matching equipment. If Thor himself had arrived, wearing iron gauntlets and a power belt, he probably would have smashed Azazel's genitals to pieces with a single blow!

"【Gangniel】!"

With his right hand still holding the hammer, Odin reached out with his left hand into the void, immediately summoning his true weapon.

This is an extremely exquisite spear, constructed in Odin's own style, eliminating unnecessary decorations and prioritizing practicality. From the sharp tip to the shaft, there is not a single crooked line; it is a smooth, straight line.

The spear shaft was made of ash wood and engraved with runes to prevent damage and wear. A bronze ring engraved with runes was set at the junction of the blade and the shaft, inscribed with dense spells for "Selection" and "Sure Hit." As for the flawless, gleaming spearhead, even Hayden couldn't discern what metal it was forged from; it emitted a mesmerizing, starlike radiance and was further enhanced with runic techniques to a great extent, increasing its penetrating power and impact.

Gungnir, the Meteor Spear, the Piercer, the Shocker. The second most powerful artifact of Asgard. It lacks the flashy effects of Thor's hammer, and the runes inscribed upon it are extremely difficult to decipher. However, its effect can be summarized in one sentence:

Wherever Odin can see, wherever he has chosen and declared a target, Gungnir's attacks will automatically follow Odin's line of sight.

Odin's single eye possesses near-future-seeing insight, making him a being with perceptions surpassing human capabilities. Building upon this foundation, and further enhancing the spearhead with utter offensive enhancements, it becomes an infallible, deadly weapon!

"【Ha-Gra-Z】!"

With his right hand swinging a hammer, Odin thrusts his spear forward with his left, chanting a spell of destruction. Wielding weapons in both hands while incantating magic, this is the unique, magical berserker stance of Odin, a stance only he can wield!

She aimed at the goat-headed giant's right knee and thrust it forcefully—the meteor spear stretched out like a snake, immediately transmitting a hard, thick feel, the feeling of strong muscles being pierced.

"Well!"

Azazel groaned. No matter how firm His muscles were, or how tenacious the fallen angel's body was, the mortal archmages were now qualified to sharpen their teeth and tear at His flesh.

Odin swung his spear, slashing a straight gash across Azazel's right knee. The fallen angel's blood sprayed into the air, giving Odin the first point. Even the ancient gods were not invincible; if too severely wounded or drained of blood, they too would become powerless, limp figures lying on the ground.

Now is the perfect opportunity!

...However, in the next instant, an unusual situation occurred that far exceeded Odin's expectations.

From Azazel's wounded knee, and from the gushing blood, a strange fragrance suddenly emanated—the intoxicating scent of sedatives, a cloyingly sweet aroma so intense it was nauseating. The mere smell of this strange fragrance sent a chill down Odin's spine. A sudden, chilling premonition gripped her.

Immediately afterwards, she realized Azazel's true intentions.

She discovered that she couldn't move her fingers.

Then came the legs and feet—even the toes couldn't move; they were spasming.

The tongue, too. The tongue, and even the lips, were unable to move, making it impossible to continue chanting the incantation.

I'm numb.

In an instant, Odin's hair stood on end, and a possibility he didn't want to even consider flashed through his mind: Was it the blood of this god-king? Could the fragrance in His blood actually be poisonous?!

"Unfortunately, this is not miasma."

As if seeing through Odin's thoughts, the ram-headed fallen angel grinned.

"Who gave you the choice to transform into a woman's body? Men who smell the scent of my blood will only go berserk, their intelligence will decline, and their instinctive desires will be aroused; women, on the other hand, will feel an instinctive psychological fear that makes it difficult for me to attack them, panic, palpitations, and their whole body will stiffen, making them unable to resist me!"

This insane ability could probably only have been conceived and modified by a mad fallen angel. Tragically, it worked remarkably well on the Norse archmages. Odin at this point could hardly be considered a true "god," merely a mortal with powerful magic. Thor feared poison, and Odin was likely similarly afraid; in fact, these future gods were currently quite afraid of poisons and the like.

Their flesh and blood are fragile. It will take them a long time to overcome this weakness—but there isn't much time left for Odin to operate!

Azazel suddenly stretched out her right arm, reaching for Odin. A powerful sense of powerlessness and stiffness prevented her from holding onto Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, and she quickly released it, using both hands to raise the Spear of Eden to protect herself. However, the force of even a single swing of Azazel's right arm was enough to split mountains and cleave seas. Such power caused the recoil to force Odin to stagger back several steps.

"This level...!?"

His defensive stance crumbled, his right hand was bruised, and the spasms in his body worsened, the areas where he had lost his freedom seemingly spreading. Odin immediately tried to retaliate, but it was futile. In an instant, more blood gushed from Azazel's wound, engulfing Odin in a deluge.

In an instant, the sweet, sticky blood, like threads, bound Odin tightly to her entire body, giving her no chance to resist. In less than a second, she was completely bound by Azazel's blood!

"Okay, I've got it."

Azazel watched this scene with satisfaction, striking a leisurely pose. At this moment, the only thing he had on his body was the wound on his knee.

"Don't be sad, don't grieve. One-eyed Hanged Man, Trickster, as a mortal magician, your performance just now was truly brilliant."

He stopped attacking, not in a hurry to pursue, as if he was certain that Odin would have no chance to fight back.

“I am a very generous king. Now, at this crucial moment, you should know that I am far superior to you and have the right to force you, shouldn’t you?”

The fallen angel laughed smugly; he must have been genuinely pleased and happy.

“I have seen too many humans with eyes like yours. Even if I threatened to burn you alive, you would never be afraid or submit.”

"So surrender now, surrender quickly! This is your last chance. If you yield now, I will guarantee the survival of you Asgardians. But if you refuse again, I will judge you mortals as lacking the potential for reformation and change, and will have to be burned clean, bones and all, like pulling out the bad bloodline!"

His wickedness was finally exposed at this moment.

Odin was even more enraged upon hearing this. But her tongue was now stiff, and the strange "toxin" prevented her from even declaring her target. While Gungnir possessed incredible power, it required Odin to declare her target before activating its guaranteed hit effect. Odin felt her lip movements worsening further, as if the slightest mistake would trigger a scream. In this state, she was helpless.