Nikolaus faced the new threat with grim determination. He sidestepped the creature's next swing and delivered a powerful slash to its side. The creature roared in pain but did not fall. It countered with a rapid series of strikes, forcing Nikolaus to defend himself with all his might.

The battle raged on, with Nikolaus trading blows with the formidable creature. Despite his injuries and exhaustion, he fought with unwavering resolve. He knew that every moment he delayed was a moment Hel remained in danger.

With a final, desperate effort, Nikolaus dodged the creature's attack and drove Lokivigir deep into its chest. The creature let out a guttural scream before collapsing to the ground. But there was no time to celebrate; more corrupted creatures were closing in.

Nikolaus took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next wave. He knew the battle was far from over, but he could not afford to falter. With Hel's fate hanging in the balance, he would fight with every ounce of strength he had left.

The horde of corrupted creatures surged forward, and Nikolaus readied himself for the next round. He would not stop until he reached Hel and freed her from the darkness that threatened to consume her.

As the battle raged on, Nikolaus started to realize that the ranks of the corrupted creatures were thinning. Seizing the opportunity, Nikolaus rushed past the creatures, dodging their swings but getting hit a few times. He pressed on, slashing Lokivigir whenever the creatures got in his way. His determination was unyielding; nothing would stop him from reaching Hel.

As he entered the Great Hall, another massive corrupted creature blocked the way to the depths of the Hall. Nikolaus charged the creature, slashing at it, but its tough skin prevented his blade from fully penetrating. The creature roared and swung a massive sword. Nikolaus tried to dodge, but even when the sword missed, he still got cut by the sheer force of the swing. This happened several times, each near miss leaving him more battered and bruised.

Trying to press on, Nikolaus went in for another attack. Just as the creature prepared to strike back, a large black dog suddenly appeared between them. Lokivigir's voice rang out in surprise and a hint of happiness, "Garmr!"

The hound looked at Nikolaus as if to tell him to save its master. Understanding the silent plea, Nikolaus ran past Garmr and the creature. The corrupted creature tried to strike him as he passed, but Garmr intercepted, and the two began their fierce fight. Garmr's powerful form and ferocious attacks held the creature at bay, giving Nikolaus the precious time he needed.

With the path temporarily cleared, Nikolaus continued to run deeper into the Great Hall. The oppressive atmosphere grew thicker with each step, and the air felt colder. His heart pounded with worry and determination. He had to reach Hel, and every second counted.

Dark corridors twisted and turned, leading him further into the depths of the Hall. The shadows seemed to move with a life of their own, and eerie whispers echoed around him. Yet, despite the chilling ambiance, Nikolaus pressed on, driven by the vision of Hel in danger.

His wounds throbbed with pain, but he pushed it aside, focusing solely on his goal. The weight of his mission to save Hel overshadowed everything else. The world outside, the other realms—none of it mattered now. His only concern was Hel, and he would not stop until she was safe.

As Nikolaus ran, the hallways seemed endless, each one more foreboding than the last. The oppressive darkness seemed to taunt him, but he refused to be deterred. He knew that somewhere within this twisted maze, Hel awaited him, and he would not fail her.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in the cold, desolate corridors, mingling with the distant roars and clashes of Garmr's battle. Nikolaus's mind raced with thoughts of Hel, the urgency of his mission driving him forward.

He turned another corner, the path ahead seeming to stretch infinitely. Yet, despite the daunting journey, Nikolaus's resolve remained unbroken. Hel was his only focus, and he would face any challenge, endure any pain, to save her.

The journey through the Great Hall continued, and with every step, Nikolaus knew he was drawing closer. The fight for Hel's freedom was far from over, but he was ready to face whatever lay ahead, determined to save her from the darkness that threatened to consume her.

Nikolaus ran as fast as he could until he reached a massive opening. There, kneeled Hel, with the sword still at her throat and the tendrils sapping her power. Hel screamed out, asking why he had come and warning him that this foe was too strong to fight and win.

With steely resolve, Nikolaus shouted back, "If your life means my death and even the death of all the other realms, I would pay that price every time!"

Hel looked down, tears filling her eyes. Seeing her in such despair fueled Nikolaus's anger. With the force of a úlfheðnar, he charged at the figure. As he reached the figure, Nikolaus swung Lokivigir with all his might, slicing all the way through. But where Lokivigir made contact, the wound healed instantly. The figure smiled at Nikolaus with a mocking tone.

"Good job," the figure sneered, then launched an attack.

The figure's strikes were swift and brutal, cutting Nikolaus with every blow. He tried to defend himself, but the figure was incredibly powerful. Each hit left deep wounds, and Nikolaus could feel his strength waning. Blood seeped from his injuries, and pain radiated through his entire body. Despite his determination, he found himself struggling to keep up with the relentless assault.

The figure's laughter echoed through the chamber as it continued to land blow after blow. Nikolaus fought back with everything he had, but his attacks seemed futile against the creature's regenerative abilities. The ground beneath them became slick with his blood, and every movement became more labored.

"Is this the best you can do?" the figure taunted, delivering a particularly vicious slash across Nikolaus's chest. He cried out in pain, but his resolve did not waver.

"I will save her!" Nikolaus roared, his voice filled with desperation and fury. He swung Lokivigir again, but the figure easily parried the attack and struck back with devastating force.

Nikolaus stumbled, nearly falling to his knees. He could feel his life force slipping away with each passing second. The figure's mocking laughter grew louder as it watched him struggle.

"You're no hero," the figure hissed. "You're just a foolish mortal, destined to fail."

But Nikolaus refused to give up. Summoning the last of his strength, he stood tall, his grip on Lokivigir unwavering. He locked eyes with Hel, drawing strength from her presence.

"Hel, I will not abandon you," he said, his voice strained but determined.

The figure launched another series of attacks, each one more brutal than the last. Nikolaus's body was pushed to its limits, and his vision began to blur from the loss of blood. Yet, he kept fighting, refusing to let the darkness claim him.

In a final desperate move, Nikolaus attempted to strike at the figure's head, but the creature easily dodged and retaliated with a devastating blow that sent him crashing to the ground. Pain seared through his body, and he could barely move.

As he lay there, struggling to breathe, the figure loomed over him, sword raised for the killing blow. "This is the end for you, mortal," it said coldly.

Nikolaus's vision dimmed, but his resolve remained. Even in the face of death, he would not surrender. Hel's safety was all that mattered, and he would fight to his last breath to save her.

With a final surge of defiance, Nikolaus raised Lokivigir to block the incoming strike. The blade clashed with the figure's sword, the impact reverberating through his weakened body. The force of the blow sent him sprawling, and he knew he couldn't withstand much more.

Yet, even as darkness threatened to overtake him, Nikolaus's spirit burned with an unyielding flame. He would not let Hel fall to the corruption. Not while he still had breath in his body.

As the battle raged on, the chamber echoed with the sounds of clashing steel and the determined cries of a warrior who refused to give in. The outcome remained uncertain, but Nikolaus's resolve was unwavering. He would fight to the very end, no matter the cost.

Hel cried out for Nikolaus to run away. "Please, Nikolaus, run! I don't want to see you die in this place!"

The creature walked over to Nikolaus, who was barely standing, and kicked him, sending him crashing to the ground hard. Nikolaus's breath was faint, but he was still holding on, even if it was only barely. The creature looked at Nikolaus, then at Hel, and with its free hand, it materialized a purplish-black Opal. With a satisfied and mocking tone, it said, "You will get to bear witness to the birth of Hel's corruption."

Nikolaus, fueled by a surge of desperate anger, got up and attacked the creature more furiously than before, leaving no room for it to counter. The creature clutched the Opal tightly as Nikolaus's assault continued, each attack becoming faster and more precise than the last.

Driven by sheer determination, Nikolaus pressed the creature back into a wall. With one final, powerful strike, he slashed at the Opal and then stabbed the creature. The creature screamed in pain as it fell, its body slowly turning to ash and disintegrating before it hit the floor.

The tendrils holding Hel vanished, and she rushed to Nikolaus, who had now collapsed on the floor. She noticed his breath was still there—he was still holding on. Hel wondered if he had been unconscious throughout the last moments of the fight. She sat on the floor and placed Nikolaus's head on her lap, kissing him gently. Then, she waited for him to wake up.

As Hel waited patiently for hours, Nikolaus finally woke up. His eyes barely opened due to the pain rushing throughout his body. He looked up to see Hel crying, but she had a smile on her face. Nikolaus reached up and touched the undead part of her face. Through the pain, he smiled back at her and, while caressing her cheek, said, "I'm sorry for making you wait for me to save you."

Hel took his hand, holding it close to her chest. Nikolaus felt the warmth of her breasts as she told him, "I'm just happy that you came to save me."

Hel helped Nikolaus sit up and leaned him against the closest wall before sitting next to him. She leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder, a few tears still falling. Nikolaus looked at her and said, "No matter the danger elsewhere, you are the only one I want to keep safe. If that means the realms must end to keep you safe, I would burn them all for you."

Hel looked up at Nikolaus with a flattered and surprised expression. She asked, "Why would someone who is mortal want to do that?"

Nikolaus grabbed Hel's chin, pulled her close, and gave her a passionate kiss. He told her, "Because you are my Goddess, and I am yours to do with as you see fit. My love for you is stronger than the chains that can bind Gods."

Unable to resist Nikolaus's passion for her, Hel kissed him back with growing intensity. Their embrace deepened, and Nikolaus felt her tears on his skin, mingling with the sweat and blood of his wounds. The warmth of her body against his gave him strength, and he responded with a fervor that surprised even him.

As they continued to kiss, their hands began to explore each other with a mixture of urgency and tenderness. Hel's touch was both gentle and demanding, and Nikolaus responded with equal passion. They moved together, their breaths quickening as the heat between them grew.

Nikolaus felt the last of his strength returning as their bodies intertwined. He laid Hel gently on the ground, his movements filled with both reverence and desire. Hel's eyes never left his, her gaze filled with trust and longing. Their union was both fierce and tender, each touch and movement speaking of the deep bond they shared.

The Great Hall, once filled with darkness and despair, now echoed with the sounds of their love and desire. The world outside faded away as they lost themselves in each other. Nikolaus's pain seemed to diminish with each moment of their closeness, replaced by a profound sense of connection and fulfillment.

Hel had never known such joy and comfort as she did being with Nikolaus. In his arms, she felt truly understood and cherished. Their lovemaking was intense and passionate, a culmination of the love and desire that had been building between them. They moved together as one, their bodies and souls perfectly in sync.