As Níðhöggr looked at Nikolaus, he spoke in a voice that rumbled like thunder, "It's too late, mortal. The corruption will not be stopped."
Before Nikolaus could respond, Níðhöggr's tail whipped around from behind, striking him with immense force and throwing him against the massive roots of Yggdrasil. Nikolaus hit the tree hard, spitting out blood from the impact. The pain surged through his body, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet.
With determination burning in his eyes, Nikolaus charged at Níðhöggr, dodging the dragon's strikes with its tail and claws. Each movement was a deadly dance, a test of his agility and reflexes. As he got closer, he prepared to pierce Níðhöggr in the chest with Lokivigir.
Just as he was about to strike, Níðhöggr used his massive wing to swat Nikolaus away, forcing him to back off. Nikolaus landed hard but rolled to his feet, his mind racing with strategies to defeat the dragon.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," Níðhöggr sneered, his eyes glowing with malevolent amusement. "But persistence alone won't save you."
Nikolaus ignored the taunt, focusing instead on finding an opening. He circled Níðhöggr, watching the dragon's movements closely. Every time he attempted to get close, the dragon lashed out with claws, tail, or wings, forcing Nikolaus to stay on the defensive.
Despite the pain and the odds stacked against him, Nikolaus's resolve never wavered. He thought of Hel and the promise he had made to her. He couldn't afford to fail. Summoning all his strength, he launched another attack, aiming for the dragon's underbelly.
Níðhöggr roared and countered with a barrage of strikes, each one narrowly missing Nikolaus as he dodged and weaved. The battle was fierce and unrelenting, a test of endurance and willpower.
Lokivigir's voice echoed in his mind, "Stay focused, Nikolaus. Look for the weak points. You can do this."
Nikolaus nodded, sweat and blood mingling on his brow. He dodged another swipe from Níðhöggr's claws and managed to land a glancing blow on the dragon's side. Níðhöggr roared in pain and fury, but the wound was superficial. Nikolaus knew he needed to strike deeper, to find a way to penetrate the dragon's thick scales.
He continued his assault, each strike more precise and deliberate than the last. Níðhöggr's attacks grew more frenzied, the dragon's rage evident in every movement. Nikolaus saw an opening and lunged forward, but Níðhöggr's wing once again knocked him back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Gasping for breath, Nikolaus struggled to rise. His body ached, and his vision blurred, but he couldn't give up. The fate of Hel and the realms depended on him.
With a fierce cry, Nikolaus charged once more, his heart filled with determination. He would find a way to defeat Níðhöggr, no matter the cost. The battle raged on, each moment a testament to his courage and resolve.
The dragon's roars echoed through Niflheim, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. The final confrontation had begun, and Nikolaus knew that only one of them would emerge victorious.
Nikolaus continued his relentless assault, but each time he attacked, Níðhöggr countered with powerful strikes. The dragon's tail whipped around, attempting to hit Nikolaus, but he dodged and managed to slash through one of Níðhöggr's wings. The injury sent the dragon into a frenzy, roaring in pain and fury.
In a rage, Níðhöggr brought down his massive claws on Nikolaus. As Nikolaus dodged, the dragon's strike landed with devastating accuracy, severing his arm from his body. Nikolaus screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground.
"Quickly, put the blade on the wound!" Lokivigir's voice urged, filled with urgency.
Through the haze of pain, Nikolaus grabbed Lokivigir with his remaining hand and pressed the blade against the gaping wound. The sword heated up instantly, sealing the wound with intense heat. The pain was excruciating, but it stopped the bleeding and saved his life.
Panting heavily, Nikolaus struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. Níðhöggr's eyes burned with malevolent glee at the sight of his injury. "You should have fled while you had the chance, mortal," the dragon sneered.
But Nikolaus, despite his severe injury, refused to back down. The pain was immense, but so was his resolve. He had come too far, fought too hard to give up now. Gritting his teeth, he raised Lokivigir with his remaining arm and prepared to continue the fight.
Níðhöggr, still enraged by the damage to his wing, lunged at Nikolaus with renewed ferocity. The dragon's strikes were faster and more brutal, forcing Nikolaus to rely on his agility and instincts to stay alive. Each movement sent waves of pain through his body, but he pushed through it, determined to find a way to defeat the dragon.
"Lokivigir, there must be a weakness," Nikolaus grunted, narrowly dodging another attack.
"Focus on the wounds," Lokivigir responded. "Exploit the damage you've already done."
With this advice in mind, Nikolaus adjusted his strategy. He aimed his attacks at Níðhöggr's injured wing and any other vulnerable spots he could find. The dragon's movements became more erratic, its fury making it both more dangerous and more predictable.
Nikolaus dodged another swipe of Níðhöggr's claws and struck the wounded wing again. The dragon roared in pain, its balance faltering. Sensing an opportunity, Nikolaus pressed the attack, each blow aimed at worsening the existing injuries.
Despite his exhaustion and pain, Nikolaus fought with the ferocity of a cornered Ulfheðnar. Níðhöggr's movements grew increasingly sluggish, the damage beginning to take its toll. But the dragon was far from defeated, and its attacks were still deadly.
Another swipe of the dragon's tail sent Nikolaus sprawling, but he rolled to his feet and charged back into the fray. Each clash of steel and scale was a reminder of what was at stake. He couldn't afford to fail. Hel, the realms, everything depended on his victory.
As the battle raged on, Nikolaus's mind sharpened with a singular focus: defeat Níðhöggr. The odds were against him, but he had faced insurmountable challenges before. With every ounce of strength he had left, he would continue to fight until the dragon was defeated and the corruption ended.
The final confrontation was far from over, and Nikolaus knew that his greatest challenge lay ahead.
The pain grew with every movement, but Nikolaus refused to back down. Níðhöggr, sensing his impending defeat, decided to use his icy breath to freeze Nikolaus forever. As the dragon prepared to unleash the deadly frost, Nikolaus knew this was his only chance.
Summoning all his remaining strength, Nikolaus ran toward Níðhöggr. Just as the dragon was about to release his icy breath, Nikolaus jumped and plunged Lokivigir into Níðhöggr's chest. The dragon writhed in pain, thrashing wildly. With a final push downward, Nikolaus drove the sword deeper, and Níðhöggr fell to the ground, its massive body convulsing.
As Níðhöggr lay dying, he spoke in a voice filled with malice, "When Asgard falls, so too shall the rest, for I am but a shadow." With those ominous words, Níðhöggr's body began to disintegrate, vanishing into the air.
Nikolaus, panting heavily, wondered what Níðhöggr's words meant. Lokivigir's voice echoed in his mind, "The real Níðhöggr must be heading to or already at Asgard."
A sense of urgency surged through Nikolaus. "We need to get to Asgard," he said, his voice filled with determination. But as he took a step forward, pain shot through his body, originating from where his left arm had been severed. He fell to the ground, clutching the stump of his arm, the pain almost unbearable.
"Rest, Nikolaus," Lokivigir urged. "You have fought bravely and achieved a great victory. We must regain our strength before we face the next challenge."
Nikolaus shook his head, his resolve unyielding. "No, Lokivigir. We can't afford to rest. We have to find a way to get to Asgard and stop Níðhöggr before it's too late."
He struggled to his feet, wincing at the pain but forcing himself to stay upright. He needed a plan, a way to reach Asgard quickly. As he looked around the desolate landscape of Niflheim, his mind raced with possibilities.
"Lokivigir," he said, his voice strained but determined, "how do we get to Asgard from here? There must be a way."
Lokivigir responded, "Yggdrasil connects all paths. We must find a way to use the tree to get to Asgard."
Nikolaus looked up at Yggdrasil, unable to see the top of the immense tree. He asked, "How can we use Yggdrasil?"
