Epic of Caterpillar

Skadi and Lazuli immediately hugged while being in tears. To the two of them, it has felt like an eternity since they were separated. Since Lazuli disappeared out of nowhere for so many years, where everyone had already accepted her sudden death, Skadi never did, always holding hope that maybe, somewhere else, she would be alive.

And she wasn't wrong, her daughter was not dead, betrayed by her sister and sealed through otherworldly powers wielded by the Spirit General named Obsidian, she was forced to many years as a Dungeon Boss of Nyzzet, the unaware Lightning Dragon God of the Realm of Vida.

For many years, she had to go through gruesome and excruciating agony as her body was cut down and destroyed countless times by the many Adventurers that traveled inside of that Dungeon… Her mind and her personality constantly shattering as she did.

However, her hopes for one day to somehow free herself from such an endless cycle of agony paid off, as Kireina appeared in her life, saving her from the agony she went through, and giving her a new chance.

Reviving her with a brand-new body, but with the same, now unsealed divine soul, Lazuli was given a second chance, and helped Kireina through her challenges as a supporting ally for a long time… Until finally, Kireina fulfilled her promise to bring her back to her home, and back to her mother.

"I'm so happy to see you, mom!" Lazuli burst into tears, incapable of holding back anymore. "I missed you so much… I went through so much… I'm so glad I'm back home…!"

"Lazuli!" Skadi cried, hugging her daughter tightly. "My little Lazuli… I'm so happy you're still you, even after everything you went through…"

"Hahh… Such an emotional scene can bring tears even to the bravest of warriors." Uru started to cry as he glanced the reunion between mother and daughter.

"Good for you, Lazuli…" Blaze smiled, finally seeing her "sister" meeting with her real mother. One of her greatest wishes finally fulfilled.

"It's nice to see you two finally meeting." Kireina smiled. "However, we've got a huge kaiju over there that won't let us have it easy…"

"GROOOOAARRR!!!"

The enormous Sky Island started to shake, its huge head began to move faster than the rest of its titanic body, stretching with a huge rainbow crystal-made neck, as it rushed towards the Realm of Niflheim with its giant jaws wide open!

TRUUUUMMM…!

As it approached closer and closer, it generated countless shockwaves that made the entire Realm of Niflheim shake, its enormous jaws soon to bite through the Realm's crust!

"That thing's definitely getting bored of waiting!" Kireina said. "Skadi, you said you had a plan, right? For once, I want to follow someone else's idea."

"Hmph." Skadi smiled confidently. "Quick, follow me! I'll show you what I meant where I'm going to!"

Everyone nodded as Skadi quickly flew across the skies, leading the entire group into her Castle, the Divine Frost Castle where she and her family lived.

It was now in ruins, having fallen apart into pieces after all the tremors and explosions, but still holding the gate inside of it standing tall.

CRAAASH!

Skadi kicked the gate open and then moved away the rubble with her enormous, Titaness body, everyone behind her was wondering where she was going on such a dire situation, until they landed on an underground room within her castle.

The enormous underground halls had maintained themselves unscathed, made of Primordial Ice, resembling a beautiful castle of pure ice crystals, to the end of the glorious halls, there was a large Divine Formation, a Teleportation Array leading somewhere else.

"This room…" Lazuli instantly recognized it. "Isn't this place…?"

"If you can remember this so well, you're clearly my daughter and not a fake." Skadi smiled. "This is the Primordial Frost Hall, a sealed area of the Frost Palace that leads to the center of this Realm, where the Realm Core, which we've been protecting all this time is located."

"The Realm Core?!" Zehe asked in surprise. "It seems you've been protecting it. Is this the same in every other Realm out there?"

"Not all, some possess no Realm Core." Skadi explained. "They're Fragments of the Original World of Genesis, their Core. Each Realm that has a Core developed it through a fragment, which slowly grew as it was cultivated by the Rulers of the Realm."

"I see, I guess it makes sense." Brontes crossed her arms. "I do remember that Vida had no Core originally, before Kireina made one use a World Core Fragment, it all now makes sense, I guess. They were always meant to be made out of them."

"Indeed. Although Realms can function well without one such as Vida, those that possess a Realm Core and are regulated by the Gods are powerful enough that they're deemed as territories who nobody that isn't allowed can trespass." Skadi said, as everyone walked towards the Divine Array. "The Realm of Vida was a chaotic land where anybody could go and do whatever they pleased. Whenever the Realms are protected by a Ruler and a Realm Core, it's a different business altogether."

"Hel held power over her Realm Core too, and that's why nobody had ever dared to attack her until we did…" Nesiphae said. "And that's also why she was so hard to fight against, having the whole Realm moving to her will- Wait, is your idea…?"

"Bingo." Skadi smiled, extending her hand towards the Array and activating it with her essence. "This Array only activates with my Divine Energy alone. Now, come with me!"

FLAAAASH!

Everyone was quickly teleported to the hollow center of the Realm of Niflheim, a huge cave decorated with bright blue, dark blue, and transparent crystals growing everywhere. Many noticed all kinds of Divine Beasts and Monsters roaming around, it was a beautiful ecosystem by itself.

And the brightest jewel of all, illuminating the Center of the Realm of Niflheim with its Divine Brilliance was its Realm Core, as big as twenty meters of height of a clear blue color, resembling the same color as Azurite, silently rotating while floating in midair.

"Kireina, there's not much time, and also, there's little hope…" Skadi sighed. "This is painful to say but… You may have my Realm in exchange for helping us all survive. So please, take it, and use the entire Real if necessary."

"Very well…" Kireina smiled. "I shall generously take your offer, Skadi. Everyone here, come with me. You too, Skadi and Azurite. I cannot properly channel this Realm Core's power without the owner and her little Spirit Queen."

Everyone flew towards the Realm Core and circled around the gigantic jewel, touching it with their palms while holding hands as Kireina commanded. Her Cosmic and Divine Energies beginning to emerge from her entire body, as several connections between everyone were formed through a special Dao that has been cultivating itself within her Origin Core for a while.

The Cosmic Dao of Union!

"Through the Authority of Skadi, and the Divine Spirit Energy of Azurite, I command you, Realm Core! Temporarily become one with our Souls! [Divine Fusion]!"

FLAAAAASSSH!!!

Everyone's souls became one, fusing together into a beautiful golden and cosmic flame that merged within the Realm Core!

RUMBLE!

And as the gigantic Sky Island Spirit Beast was about to chomp down the entire of Niflheim, one of the Realm's largest mountains suddenly started shaking, transforming into a huge fist.

And punching the beast on its face!

CRAAAAAASSSSSHH!!!