The shopkeeper's expression shifted strangely. "If you're planning to pay with runes, it's forty runes per bottle."
"That's so expensive!" Rowe was taken aback.
"Ice worm powder is a specialty of Jotunheim, and this is the land of flames. You're trying to buy a frost-land specialty in the heart of fire—of course it's expensive," the shopkeeper replied plainly.
Rowe paused for a moment, then seemed to realize something. "Boss, if I brought ice worm powder here, would you buy it?"
"No," the man responded calmly. "Jotunheim goods are barely used here. Sometimes a bottle sits for two years without a sale."
That news left Rowe frustrated. He thought he'd found a way to make money—after all, he'd gathered quite a lot of ice worm powder back in Jotunheim, and still had some stored.
But the next words from the shopkeeper offered a spark of hope: "If you're into that sort of trade, try the Burning Realm. Maybe someone there will be interested."
The Burning Realm—the capital of Muspelheim and seat of Surtur—lay thousands of miles away. Though considered savage and desolate by the Aesir, it was the most thriving city in the fire giants' territory.
"Thanks." Rowe nodded thoughtfully before silently leaving the shop.
After gathering information about Muspelheim and purchasing some necessities—like flame-resistant undergarments—Rowe retraced his steps.
He dove into the fiery magma, swimming toward the spatial rift.
Though the searing magma didn't hurt him thanks to his divine resistance, its cloying, syrup-like texture was deeply unpleasant.
As Rowe pondered his form and technique in magma swimming, he suddenly sensed a strong disturbance behind him.
His expression changed. He turned his head quickly.
"Roar!"
A massive fiery-red shark had appeared, emerging from the depths of the lava with its maw wide open. At ten meters long, it looked ready to swallow him whole.
"That's... the Abyss Fire Shark!"
Rowe recognized it instantly—Muspelheim's most infamous lava predator.
The Abyss Fire Shark, forged in magma over countless centuries, swam several times faster than Rowe.
He acted fast—hands extended, he caught the shark's upper and lower jaws as they clamped down.
Flames burst from his fingers as he unleashed his full divine firepower.
Boom! Blinding white flames exploded across the shark's face, sending lava into a frenzy.
But the beast's natural resistance to flame—far surpassing that of even fire demons—left it only lightly scorched.
Switching tactics, Rowe summoned Verigan's Fist and began channeling Holy Light.
Holy Light bypasses most resistances; no creature, not even one born of flame, was truly immune.
Even so, the lava muffled its effects, and the shark's agility in its native element far outpaced Rowe's own.
After several minutes of fierce combat, Rowe had sustained multiple wounds—scrapes, burns, and cuts—but the fire shark was still going strong.
"Roar!"
Shark and warrior continued to battle beneath the boiling surface.
The shark dodged a hammer strike, its sleek body curving gracefully through molten currents.
Rowe gritted his teeth, lunged forward, and grabbed the shark by its tail.
The Abyss Fire Shark thrashed wildly, twisting and spinning, but Rowe clung on with ferocious resolve and landed multiple Holy Light strikes. The shark's flank erupted in scorched, bloodied flesh.
"Roar!"
Angry and panicked, the creature lashed out, flinging Rowe against a submerged rock.
Crash!
Even cushioned by magma, the impact shattered chunks of stone and left Rowe winded.
"Roar!"
The predator turned to strike again.
But as Rowe touched the stone beneath him, inspiration struck.
He dodged left and leapt out of the lava, landing on the rock's surface.
"Roar!"
The Abyss Fire Shark lunged up, nearly reaching him.
Rowe moved instantly. He reached for his waist, withdrawing an icy-blue longbow from his Sanctuary space—the Ice Shaper, a weapon he'd acquired in Jotunheim. Alongside it, he grabbed three arrows.
Bow drawn. Arrows nocked. Frost formed.
Despite the fire-rich environment weakening the bow's natural chill, Rowe's divine power allowed him to pull the weapon to its fullest tension, maximizing its force.
Protected by divinity, he was safe from the cold backlash.
The bow creaked as it was fully drawn. The three arrows shimmered, ice-blue and gleaming like fused crystal and steel.
Sensing danger, the Abyss Fire Shark turned, trying to retreat back into the molten depths—but it was too late.
Whoosh!
Three arrows shot forth. A blast followed as they struck true. Bang! Ice bloomed across the beast's body.
"Ow!!"
The shark screamed in pain. Purple-black veins spread from the wounds—poisoned by the power of Jotunheim frost.
It flailed toward the magma, but its movements were now sluggish and stiff.
Rowe dived in after it and finished the job.
He hauled the massive corpse onto the rocky outcrop and dropped down to catch his breath.
After a few moments, he drew a dagger and began dismembering the carcass. There were valuable parts to salvage.
Soon, he found the most prized component—its hide.
The Abyss Fire Shark's skin was tough, heat-resistant, and saturated with fiery energy.
Rowe immediately opened the forging schematics for Sanqi's Scarlet Commander's Shield.
[Heavy Leather Replacement Value: 115%]
He smiled. Perfect. The hide would serve as a component for the legendary shield.
After finishing the dissection and packing the useful parts, he returned to the space portal.
Buzzing...
As Rowe stepped through the tetrahedral rift, Little Shilut—rolling on the ground nearby—sprang up with an excited chirp.
Rowe chuckled, patting him gently. "Brought you a gift. Genuine Muspelheim gems. Try them."
Back in Landvety Town, Rowe returned to his old home—only to find it overgrown with weeds. He spent time cleaning it up.
"Who are you?" a voice called out nearby.
He turned to see Baelish, the fish merchant.
Rowe smiled. "What? You don't recognize me?"
Baelish squinted, then his eyes widened. "You're... Rowe! What happened to you?"
"I awakened divine power," Rowe explained. "It brought me back. Odin himself blessed me."
Baelish's face turned complicated. "I don't know whether to envy you or worry."
"Why?" Rowe asked.
"War's brewing in Vanaheim," Baelish said solemnly. "Before, your sickly build was a shield—like my age and gut. No one drafts someone like that."
He eyed Rowe's new form—taller, broader, stronger. "Now, though? You'll be at the top of the conscription list."
PS :
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE CHAPTERS
We're already at Chapter 205 on Patreon!
▶ patreon.com/HACKDWORLD ◀