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The gods were all confused, but Maria and Tyr slowly explained what had happened.

At the same time, Maria used her Magic and Crafting Skills to repair the entire Empire of Light, finally releasing the people trapped within her Shadow Realm.

The soldiers and citizens were quickly instructed to spread the truth as well.

Revolts erupted and complaints poured in. Panic swept through the streets now that the Emperor was dead, yet he had left several heirs, who were already racing for the throne.

Maria, of course, refused to let them slip away. With Tyr and the gods at her side, she declared the whole of Midgard her territory.

The people were now under her protection—but they would also have to follow certain rules.

Rule number one: redistribution of wealth.

The Empire of Light had hoarded nearly all resources and riches on the continent.

Gradually, everything would be shared and invested to improve the lives of everyone across Midgard.

Rule number two: complete abolition of slavery.

Every slave was freed immediately, and anyone involved in the slave trade was imprisoned without delay.

Rule number three: protection for demi-human races.

A law granted them safeguards against discrimination and abuse and recognized them as full citizens.

Maria also established a church of Hel, officially permitting the worship of the Death Goddess throughout the Empire of Light.

There were many smaller changes as well. Maria spent an entire day carefully planning everything.

After learning of Odin’s death and Frigga’s sacrifice, Thor and the other Aesir gods felt deeply conflicted—especially when they realized their father had truly descended into madness.

Yet, as Frigga had said, they had lived for thousands of years. They chose to accept the truth and move forward.

Stripped of their divine privileges, the gods were now merely stronger mortals, unable to access the powers and authority they once wielded.

They were given a new purpose: to serve and protect the people.

The Ancient Dragons and Titans who had once sided with Odin finally reunited with their long-dead family members through Hel’s Domain, which remained anchored within Maria.

Skadi spoke again with Tear, and the dragons conversed with Lucifer and the others.

It was perhaps the first day in hundreds of thousands of years that Yggdrasil had witnessed such profound change. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As night fell, festivities erupted across the Empire of Light. Some people chose to celebrate the dawn of a new era—especially overjoyed that a god like Tyr had returned, a kind and honorable figure who had sworn to protect them all.

The great feast was lavish. Maria, her family, and her many disciples joined the celebration, eating and drinking alongside the gods, who still seemed a little awkward amid everything.

Maria gazed up at the night sky with a distant, blank stare.

She still couldn’t fully believe Odin was gone.

She would have preferred Frigga to remain, but it was already over—there was nothing more she could do.

Though the world felt strangely unchanged on the surface, everything beneath felt utterly different.

The air carried a fresh, almost hopeful quality.

And the atmosphere itself seemed to shift slowly over time.

"...Huh. Maybe this world can actually be a nice place."

Maria sighed softly and stepped away from the party. She watched everyone enjoying their meals, then flew up to the rooftop of Hel’s temple. Below, children laughed and ran freely through the streets.

"A day ago this was complete chaos—people dying by the thousands... now look how peaceful everything is," Maria murmured. "Don’t you think, Hel?"

Hel appeared beside her. She was bound to Maria’s presence—she had enjoyed a few drinks with Tyr and the others earlier but eventually returned to Helheim.

Yet through Maria’s Aura, Hel could teleport to the world of the living at any moment and move freely within ten meters of her.

Beyond that distance, Hel risked killing anything in her line of sight due to her Authority of Absolute Death.

"Yeah," Hel said quietly. "My siblings are worried about our father... and I think something’s happening with him."

"Hm? Ah yes," Maria nodded.

She had been trying to savor the moment, pretending nothing else was wrong.

But Loki was indeed doing something.

"Maria, I’m worried my father might do something terrible..." Hel muttered. "I can’t relax until we deal with him..."

"I know," Maria said, standing up. "Let’s go."

The two flew swiftly through the night sky.

Maria tore open space with Path of Nihility and emerged directly before the Yggdrasil tree in the middle of the ocean.

The tree was engulfed in a violent thunderstorm. Black clouds churned endlessly overhead.

The surrounding sea roiled and trembled.

Yggdrasil’s roots glowed with ominous red and purple light, pulsing without end.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Maria demanded, scanning the chaos.

"I can see Father’s aura... over there! Let’s go! Hurry!" Hel urged.

They flew faster, closing in on the titanic tree, chasing Loki’s presence.

Higher and higher they climbed.

Amid the swirling storm clouds and crackling thunder, they finally saw him.

A tall, slender figure with a handsome face and long purple hair.

His sharp crimson eyes gazed calmly at the tree, a faint smile on his lips as he pointed a staff toward its trunk.

"F-Father?!" Hel cried angrily. "Father! What the hell are you doing?! Odin is dead! The gods have lost! What...! What are you doing right now?!"

"Oh my? Hel?" Loki glanced down, genuinely surprised to see his daughter. "I’m surprised! How did you escape Helheim—oh! Through Maria?! Has she become some kind of gateway between realms? Fascinating!"

"Hello..." Maria said awkwardly. This was her first time meeting Loki face-to-face. "So you’re Hel’s father? Why... where were you all this time? Why didn’t you help against Odin?!"

"Oh, Odin?" Loki asked lightly. "I fled from that madman the moment he began devouring his own children. And I decided... well, I wasn’t going to participate in this wretched, sinful world any longer."

"...?" Maria frowned. "What?"

"But Dad, he’s dead!" Hel insisted. "The gods have regained their senses—they’re weak as mortals now, and Tyr has been revived! A new era is about to begin... one where we can finally live happily!"

"No... happiness is merely an illusion," Loki said softly. "This world is cursed, Hel. My dear daughter, this place is grotesque and horrid. And I have no intention of spending another second here. See? Yggdrasil agrees."

"Y-Yggdrasil?" Hel stared at the tree.

Its branches suddenly stretched outward, forming countless wooden hands that wrapped around Loki, covering him in black, purple, and red wood. A helmet with antlers materialized atop his head.

"Yes, she agreed we must leave," Loki continued calmly. "So, I’m almost finished! Well, congratulations on killing Odin. He would have died with my plan anyway, but whatever. Well done."

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