Atreus paces around the meadow, circling it unconsciously. Over and over, he mutters the phrase. Yet, no matter how he tones the words, the answer isn't any clearer. As an extra measure, he continues searching through every corner and crevis of the garden. Although he finds some more runes and a handful of silver and leftover treasure, nothing helps solve the mystery.
"Perhaps there's a monster within the maze that holds the key?" Atreus asks himself. "No, that's unlikely... Father and I had been through this maze several times, I think we would have found it back then..."
Now he stands at the center of the lush green field. A cool breeze brushes him and through the grass at his feet.
"He who watches over the cradle guards the way," Atreus begins to repeat. As the words slip passed his lips, his eyes scan the skies. "His look is the lock, and his negligence is the key... From oversight, will the path open to the heart of Niflheim..."
The answer, so visible, yet hidden in broad view presents itself to him. While skimming the area, the one detail that looms over him is the statue. The rusty husk of a warrior figure faces the garden and looks down upon the Son of Kratos. Wholeheartedly believing that the answer rests there, Atreus marches toward the massive construction. Climbing proves effortless through his determination.
Now standing side to side with the statue, he examines the peak. No lever or device is visible at the top. Even the age and rust of the artwork show how little interaction there was in this spot. He looks out to the garden in search of any other clues. Yet, nothing to the horizon or off to the sides has any value to the search for the entrance. Once more, Atreus mutters the riddle, softer than even a whisper. Although it may sound unlikely, one possibility sparks in his mind.
Grabbing the leg of the hollow formation, the Last Son of Sparta pulls on it with all of his strength. Although the screeching of rusty, dwarven steel could be confused for reckless damage, eventually, the statue begins to turn. The creaking of ancient metals and gears creeps from the earth below. The longer he turns the structure, the more the garden reacts.
With garden life springing atop it, the floor beneath the lush green meadow begins to rip open. Separate devices pull the earth apart, releasing a burst of thick, brown clouds of lethal fumes from below. Every second of prying the warrior to turn, the harder the rumbling becomes. The scraping of ancient metal lightens as the passage fully opens. With the statue facing away, the pulled apart field now presents Atreus with the entrance.
Below the desolate garden, a black and golden platform rests, with a broad stairway attached. The fog that endlessly pours is thick enough to shield the lowest level of the pathway. Even to this day, devices withing rumble and roar actively within the chamber. As Atreus approaches, he shields his mouth. Though the mask was a great help, even the dwarven mouthguard cannot fully protect him here.
"Brok and Sindri weren't kidding about the fumes being worse beneath the earth," Atreus recalls. "I need to work fast."
Gods only know what horrors may linger in the depths of Niflheim. Whatever powers Ivaldi meddled with, he would be facing them, now that the way is open. Atreus takes up his longbow and begins his descent into the toxic heart of the realm. Three arrows already rest in his fingers, ready to be fired at any given moment. Through the smoke of death, he would be prepared to inflict the same fate upon his foes.
The stairway comes to an abrupt end not long after Atreus enters. Before him is a massive cave entrance large enough to fit a troll. Much to his worry. Even so, he brazenly moves onward, no matter the danger that may await him. Within the caverns, tubes, pipes, and gears are scattered and pierced in the walls and floors of the passage. Steam and gas bleed from every crack and opening. The heat sticks itself to Atreus's flesh and even his fur clothing. He moves at a fast yet careful pace. The threat of both the toxins and possible beasts and monstrosities within, make his approach challenging to manage... Or so he thought...
The deeper he delves into the mines, the more corpses he finds. Not just of rotting dwarves, but of Draugr, Revenants, and even Asgardian's long passed. One peculiar detail unsettles the Son of Kratos. Many of the bodies have been chewed up, torn to bits, and partially dragged into the earth. The long passage of time has molded the carcasses into the gravel itself. Looks of fear and agony petrified on their faces.
"What the-"
Before Atreus can even finish his question, he gets his answer. Bursting from the walls, ceiling, and dirt are scaley tendrils and tails that wrap around each of his limbs. The fanged, pincer heads of massive, insect-like serpents latch onto his shoulders and other parts of his body. His angry groans can be confused for growls as he's drawn to the nearest surface. Though the creatures had the preemptive strike, his strength proves to be a more significant challenge for them. Even as they gnaw on his limbs, his will to break free prevents them from claiming another victim.
Unable to grab any of his weapons, his only reliable source of defense is the arrows already in hand. With one forced, stabbing motion, he drives the arrowheads into one of the serpents. An agonizing hissing and wailing fill the room, the worm releases its hold on Atreus's arm. With one more limb free, he reaches for his seax. With a blind swing of his shortsword, he severs another of the creatures in two. More anguished cries echo in the caverns. Now halfway free, Atreus begins slicing and cleaving his way through the pack of ground-dwelling hunters.
Even after unlatching himself from the jaws of the insects, he's unable to catch a moment's rest. The cries of the creatures have alerted more. The Blades of Chaos burn in his hands, now ready to face them. As he rushes through the mines, the snake-like hunters lunge at him from all directions. One by one, with each swing of his chain blades, the beasts wriggle and writhe in death. Yet no matter how many he cuts down, the swarm persists.
From both directions, does the earth move and turn with the serpents approaching him. Above, and below, they creep to him, awaiting the moment to strike all at once. The sounds of antagonizing hisses surround him, reaching into the back of his mind. Even with numbers not being in his favor, Atreus shows no fear to them, but instead annoyance. Though their bites sting, they're not lethal. However, his time is far more crucial and cannot be wasted with these subterranean creatures.
Just as he stances himself to meet their attack, a sudden quake within the caverns occurs. So much power from the tremor nearly knocks Atreus over, and even shakes the serpents out of hiding. No longer are they organized and pestering. The creatures shriek in panic, terror at the source of the rumble. They scurry in all directions, even slithering and avoiding Atreus as they desperately make their way back into the earth. What comes with it, even frightens the fearless Son of Kratos.
A voice, deeper than a mountain, and with the burning fury of a comet, blasts in Atreus's ears. Rocking him to his very core, striking such terror that his knees become weak. His heart races, not entirely recognizing the language spoken but knowing what it means... Chaos... Ushering of Oblivion... Ragnarok... Whatever heralds in such a cataclysm, is not a force Atreus wishes to face. Nor could such a thing be in Niflheim, not without leaving its unavoidable mark. Just as fast as it came, the unknown presence vanishes.
"What was that?" He asks.
Though shaken from the experience, his goal remains the same. Now only wishing to complete his task quicker, he no longer plays safely. He rushes through the cave system. The serpents now hide, no longer blocking his path. Which makes it all the easier to reach the end, something that Atreus now dreads. Every thought in his mind is wishful and hopeful that he doesn't encounter whatever shook the realm, just by talking.
The further he traverses the cave, the more time he has to quell the anxiousness in him. Although his focus is directed back to his objective, an unsettling curiosity is still hooked in him. Even when every part of him tells him not to think into it, his thoughts keep tethering him back to that voice. Could it have been a Jötunn, hiding from the Aesir? No, not possible. It would be impossible to miss a giant with such power. Just as his mind is about to linger longer into the idea, his search ends.
"Finally," he says in relief.
At the end of the cave, is a dome-shaped chamber of gold and bronze. Large enough to fit a dragon or two. The walls are held up and fortified by thicker pipes and channels of metal. Gears continue to turn and keep Ivaldi's machines active. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, sharpened and decorated to fit the theme of the room. Several workstations are scattered across the chamber, cluttered with notes and ruined, aged tomes of research. However, the most distinct detail rests at the very back of the room.
Atop a glistening throne rests the skeleton, of the master dwarf himself. Ivaldi chose his resting place at the heart of the dwarven realm. Even after so many ages passed, his glimmering, royal armor hasn't broken down to the passage of time. Along with his overfilled chest, that he clung to until his final moments. The most glamorous set of hammers, gauntlets, and other blacksmithing tools rest inside the black chest.
"That's convenient," Atreus comments, still looking down at the room from the top of a ledge. "For Ivaldi, and his divine equipment to just be sitting there... In the open..."
Atreus takes a moment to study the room further. He glances at every corner of the chamber. To the naked eye, nothing seems amiss, and in fact, feels all but barren. A well-carved stairway is beside him, leading him right to Ivaldi's body. Even with those creatures lurking in the earth around him, this room hasn't been disturbed by them. Nothing stands between him and his objective. Yet, his instincts tell him otherwise.
"I'm going to regret this..." He says distastefully.
A muffled sigh vacates his mask while he leaps down from the ledge. Casual, yet observant towards the area, he marches to the throne. Again, he does not notice anything suspicious, but can't let go of the feeling that something is observing him. From that room, or beyond, he doesn't know with certainty. Yet his mind won't let the thought go into the clouds of the chamber.
"I don't think you'll be needing these any longer," Atreus says while reaching for the box.
Just as his hand touches the ancient chest, the realm trembles once more. More violent than before, accompanying the rumble is the same booming, cindering call. This time, the earthquake disables the machinery in the chamber. The tubes burst, expelling more fumes, gears shatter and fall, along with some rubble from above. The walls and floors crack at random, the chaotic tremors reaching into Atreus's very soul. However, what follows is the most alarming phenomenon.
At the heart of Ivaldi's lab, a rift, black as an abyss tears open. Spewing from it are wild flames that reach outward. Portions of the room are scorched, and the gases burn and incinerate by the intense heat. In a flash, the chamber's cleansed, and the fires doused by the void from where it came. The quake ceases, and any trace of the wrathful voice is gone.
"What is that?" Atreus asks.
The Son of Kratos carefully approaches. The vacuum produced by the tear is soft enough to be confused for a breeze. Despite the frightening display of its opening, the appearance is serene, a tether that draws him towards it. The closer he gets, the more an image within becomes apparent. As well as the sounds from the other side.
"BURN THIS CITY, BURN IT TO THE GROUND!" Atreus hears from the rift.
The vision from within strikes him with disarray, dread, and denial. The longer he stares, the more he rejects what he sees. A world, consumed with fire, rage, and genocide. A city of gold in desolation, with a mighty crowned tower in the background. The heavens above black and red from smoke and storms. Corpses of all the creatures and people of the nine realms littering a still ongoing battle. The clashing of steel, the screams, and cries of war echo in the distance. At its center, is Atreus himself, dawning the crimson Blades of Chaos, and his marking blood red.
"This can't be!" Atreus spouts, disdained by what he sees. "That's not me, it can't be me..."
Questions form in his head faster than he can comprehend them. The longer he dwells on the vision, the more scorn and grief consume his heart. Was that his future? He could never cause such anguish, unnecessary cruelty, and torment. Yet it felt and looked to real to be an illusion. With every fiber of his being, Atreus dismisses such a possibility. He shakes his head furiously, trying to remove the images from his consciousness.
"I refuse to believe it!" He shouts. "That will not be my destiny!"
Breaking him from his train of thought is a familiar hissing sound. Looking up at the balcony, he hears the approaching carnivorous insects. The absence of the earthquake has drawn them back out of hiding. Atreus takes up his bow once more. His eyes are fixated on their approaching shadows. As they begin slithering into the chamber, their subtle taunts become shrieks. Incidentally, their call leads to their demise.
A much louder roar from the rift extends to the room and tunnels. The subterranean creatures shiver and flinch at the backlash. Another shine of light blinds Atreus, forcing him to back away. While shielding his eyes, the Sons of Kratos feels the shakes and growls of a massive creature now standing in the chamber. Large and threatening enough to invoke terror in the other predators.
After uncovering his eyes, the rift has all but vanished. In its place, a massive creature towers above him and the insects. Its body plated in ebony and crimson steel, melding into its matching scales. Only long, slender arms with blade sharp talons, support its snake-like body. A single webbed fin, tattered, grows from underneath its gaping, rigid fanged jaws. With another mighty roar, this Lindworm announces its presence to the lesser creatures.
In an instant, wild flames spew from its mouth and into the toxic fumed tunnels. In a flash, the insectoids are incinerated, not even letting a hiss free before dying. All around him, Atreus sees how the fires spread even into the earth. A chain effect causes the gas pipes around him to combust, shards of dwarven metal fling and blast in all directions, and the steam from the cracks intense. With his back to the coldest surface, Atreus shields himself from the fierce heat.
From its mere breath, the Lindworm has left Ivaldi's creations in ruins. Now it sets its sights on one last obstacle, Atreus himself. The Son of Kratos already dawns his longbow and is about to launch his arrows. Just as the draconic beast turns to him, he fires.
"Þruma, Bruni, Ljösta!" He shouts.
Fire shoots, light flies, and lightning crackles from his bowstring. Directly, the shots make contact with the Lindworms head. An explosion of bright fury and electricity erupts in all directions from its skull. Although it pulls back from the attack, the drake shows little injury from the attack. Instead, the beast becomes enraged to the point that its eyes and belly glow with furious heat.
In a dash, the Lindworm rams its talons at the Son of Kratos. Although he's able to block the palm strike with the shields of Trolls Bane, he cannot stop the claws from slicing the sides of his body. Nor brace himself from the impact against the wall behind him. Blood from his arms and shoulders now coat the beast's hand. As it's grip tightens, the razor blade nails cut and dig into Atreus's back. Angrily with a shout, he redirects the force of the hit with an outward swing of his arms.
The bludgeoning strike is enough to break the Lindworms hold. Yet, it only provokes the creature even further. The beast growls, and its serpent tongue slithers from its fangs. Immediately, it swings the back of its other hand towards him. However, he's still distracted from the open wounds, leaving him unable to stop this hit. Taking the full might of the attack, the Lindworm sends him flying across the chamber. The wall cracks from the hurling impact. Even as he falls from the attack, Atreus manages to land on his feet.
Once more, he unleashes a barrage of elemental arrows at the beast. While the attacks are direct and create mighty blasts, they prove near useless against the serpent. Its immolating body and metal shell prove nigh immune to the relentless shots. The Lindworm's agitation increases as more arrows strike its body, prompting it to attack with more savagery. With every swing of its claws, Atreus blocks or leaps away from the attack. When countering the swipes with the Blades of Chaos, even the searing flames of his father's weapons prove ineffective.
The only weapons on his arsenal that make some impact are his seax blade, and Troll's Bane. Even so, his blunt punches, and precise slashes and throws, barely scrape or leave damage on its armor.
"Dammit, think!" He shouts to himself. "How the Hel do I get past that armor?"
For a moment, Atreus and the beast lock eyes. Its fury flashes in its irises, fluctuating them between the colors of orange and red. Indirectly, by staring at his enemy, the Son of Kratos rediscovers the massive stalactites hanging on the ceiling. Just as the beast builds up its flames within its snake-like jaws, Atreus fires into the sky.
"Bruni!"
His well-placed shots hit the weakest points of the foundation. The roof quakes, and one of the giant shards of rock comes crashing down. Before the Lindworm can avert the plummeting stone, the stone collapses onto its neck. Some of the armor platings shatter, and even the cindering scales crumble by the weight. With the front half of its body now pinned, Atreus moves in for a relentless assault. Furiously, he bashes the beasts face with Troll's Bane. While initially having the upper advantage, it's not long before the creature frees itself.
Atreus leaps away as the Lindworm hurls the chunk of rock toward him. Although he's unable to catch it, he manages to withstand the hit with his shields. His body is pushed all the way towards the nearest wall. Appearing just as helpless as the serpent was, the beast rushes him. Right as its head comes close, Atreus leaps above it. With swift agility and well-placed balance, he reaches the exposed part of its defenses. Utilizing both the chains from his blades and that of his seax, he slashes, pierces, and tears at it.
The Lindworm's hot blood spills down its flexible spine. The creature violently rocks and shakes its body in retaliation, but Atreus's chains have a tight hold on its body. Only when deciding to hurl itself at the nearest foundation, is it able to brush Atreus off it. The Son of Kratos is bashed on both sides, releasing his hold on the creature. With snake levels of speed, the Lindworm grabs his legs with its jaws, throwing him into the air.
As his body flies toward another sharp shard of earth, he quickly swerves himself. Sadly, the side of his stomach is still cut by it. Even when in pain, he hones his sense of aim to drive his runic sword into one of the rocks. Now he hangs, looming above his enraged foe.
"This thing just won't die!" Atreus states. "Where in the nine realms could such a beast crawl out of?"
The longer he remains beyond its reach, the more the Lindworm's rage persists. Watching it bash and beat on the surrounding foundation, gives Atreus one more idea.
"I need to bring the whole chamber down on top of it," he says, looking around at the already damaged ceiling. After breaking a portion of it, more of Ivaldi's remaining and undamaged pipelines and machines become visible. "I just need to make it a little angrier."
Instead of using any more arrows, or trying to harm it from his great distance, he comes up with an alternative. As the draconic beast hisses and growls at him, Atreus throws a small pebble at it. For a moment, the Lindworm's aggression fades and becomes silent.
"Come on, I'm right here," Atreus says. Awaiting for it to attack, Atreus drives one of his blades into one of the thicker pipes. Concentrated gas begins to pour, forming a dense cloud around him.
Suddenly, returning to its rage-filled state, the Lindworm lets out another roar. Once more, its lungs fill with fire, bright enough to peak from its throat. The beast spews the explosive wave of flames towards Atreus. Right before they reach him, he pushes himself downward. He darts downward, passing them as an explosion erupts behind him from the serpent's attack and flammable fumes. Once more, the foundation and any remaining mechanisms erupt and blast to pieces. To slow his fall, and shield himself, Atreus grabs hold of the Lindworms webbed fin beneath its chin. Its head is pulled down, as the ceiling crashes down on both of them. Rock, metal, and fire bury them, leaving the chamber in ruins. Only Ivaldi's throne and his treasure remain, undamaged and out of the ruble.
All becomes calm, deathly still in the devastation. The only noise is that of the charred debris and still lit patches of fire. After some time, the masses of stone and metal begins to rumble. As it parts, the Lindworm restlessly shakes its way out. Much of its armor is damaged, along with portions of its scale. Some of which are peeling off its flesh. Trickles of glowing red blood drip from all of the severe wounds. Beneath its jaws, Atreus still clings to its fin. With one jerking motion, he tears it clean from the draconic creature's jaw. It roars while backing away.
"Damn, I was sure that was going to be the end of it," Atreus says.
Even the Son of Kratos is injured from this unprepared battle. Every limb bearing cuts, bruises, and small gashes. Even trickles of blood drip from his hair and onto his face. As he stares at his equally harmed foe, he no longer senses anger. Instead, a look in the Lindworms eyes and tone of growl make him feel mocked.
"I ain't dead yet," he says, wiping his forehead. "I've foughten gods, you're nothing special!"
With one lunge, the Linderworm charges him. Given the condition of the beast, it cannot move too quickly, allowing Atreus to leap away in time. A choice that soon becomes an instant, regretful decision. Instead of clamping its jaws onto Atreus, the beast takes the corpse of Ivaldi, along with his chest. After swallowing the treasure, the Lindworm faces him, letting loose another taunting hiss.
"Goddamnit!" Atreus spouts.
Both he and the serpent stare at each other, on the same level. Eye to eye, both are ready to kill. Atreus, with his single seax, and the Lindworm exposing its sword length fangs. In synch, the two rush each other. They match in pitch as the creature roars, and Atreus yells. With the mouth of the beast gaping open, the Son of Kratos skids across the floor. Bringing his blade up, he slices the serpent's chin. Yet, the moment he stands, only a second is spared to him. Right as he turns, the creature's jaws crash down on him. With one gulp, Atreus is swallowed whole.
A moment passes, as the Lindworm does not react. Everything settles, and the battle comes to an abrupt end. However, it's not the serpent that will claim victory. Instantly, it begins to writhe and wail in pain. The beast's body jerks and flails randomly. As each second passes, blood and excessive fluids spew from its roaring jaws. Its cries become faint and quieter as its throat becomes clogged. Its anguished calls cease, the moment Atreus's seax rips through its belly. With one swing upwards, the Son of Kratos tears a line through its stomach. With another, slashes across its throat.
Atreus bursts from its body, blood, and saliva spill and sprays out with him. The Lindworm falls back, collapsing dead on the piles of stone around them. Even in death, its corpse wiggles and slithers uncontrollably like a snake. Atreus, while in a revolted state, stands victorious. In one hand, his stained runic blade, the other, Ivaldi's chest and clasping, decayed hand clinging to it. The Son of Kratos examines his bathed body, and shake in repulsion.
"Disgusting!" He says, sheathing his sword and laying the chest down. While stretching and jerking his limbs, the cracking and relocating of his bones eases his soreness. "I never want to do that again."
Ivaldi's work has been destroyed, all that remains of him is his tools and reckless legacy. His machines and creations have combusted and are no longer operational. It's uncertain that the Lindworm's flames affected the outside, but Atreus will soon find out. However, just as he is about to depart, something curious catches his eye. Even after dropping masses of stone atop his foe, the beasts helm and some of its armor are intact. He approaches closer to it. Its reflexes continue to make it move, but slowly becoming still. Out of intrigue, he bangs on the top of the metal headpiece, testing its durability.
"Interesting," he comments, coming to a sudden decision.