Floating in an empty void, the Yorgana System brought Grimhild Yorgana back to life once more.
She materialized in the nonexistent abyss, floating before the white-haired system which hovered upside down with a beauty that could make even Aphrodite pale in comparison.
[Master. This battle is winnable, but you hesitate.]
The System spoke in a monotone voice, similar to Grimhild's, except more robotic.
[You willingly refuse to use me to the fullest. Why is that, master?]
Grimhild stood naked in the void, staring at the system before she closed her eyes.
"This is a battle I must win on my own, Sofia..."
The white-haired system lifted its brows, baffled, despite its vast knowledge.
[I do not understand. I am part of you; I am the collection of your memories and experiences. Using me is still using your own strength to defeat the opponent.]
Grimhild smiled at her comment, stating, "That is where you're wrong. You've grown over time, and become your own person. I will not use you to handle my own problems."
[...]
"While you may be created by my memories and experiences... you have your own as well. That is why you're a different person."
[...]
"This is a battle I must win on my own. For my sake. That is why I'm refusing your help, Sofia. Is that understood?"
Sofia, deep in thought, nodded their head.
[I understand, master.]
Yorgana System had the capabilities of analyzing the past, present, and future.
It could see future spells and abilities, and act accordingly to decipher them and bestow immunity to such phenomena, but Grimhild reprogrammed it.
By knowing that Sofia would act on her own without Grimhild's say-so, the Witch of Destruction limited the Yorgana System for the time being.
Sofia could no longer act non-linearly, nor could Grimhild predict a series of infinite possibilities and impossibilities to win her battle.
She wanted to do this on her own terms.
[Before you engage in combat. May I ask why, Master? Why must you complete this battle on your own, without my help? You created me. Everything I can do was constructed by your hands.]
Grimhild lowered her head, falling into a trance of thought. Memories of the past flooded her mind and brought great pain to her heart... it all felt as if it happened yesterday.
"Hel reminds me of the person I was long ago... she has the power to end stories, phenomena, and concepts, similar to my Destruction Magic." Closing her eyes, a look of regret crossed her face. "Seeing how she fights, and knowing of her true nature, brings me shame. I was once the same, just like her."
[...]
"That is why I want to defeat her with my own hands."
[Because defeating her would be similar to killing your old demons?]
Grimhild lifted her head, taken aback by Sofia's understanding.
"Yes... that is exactly why I choose to fight on my own."
[The past weighs heavily on your shoulder, master. If defeating the Queen of Death eradicates your old demons of the past, then I shan't join the bout. This is your chance to relieve yourself of your encumbrance.]
Grimhild smiled at Sofia's understanding as clothes materialized on the naked witch's body.
"I'm sorry for taking away most of your traits, Sofia, but I lived long enough to know about your character." Grimhild snickered, albeit inaudibly. "You wouldn't hesitate to aid me in battle if I were struggling."
[That is correct, Master. I exist to serve, and reprogram the code of reality to benefit you.]
"There is no need for you to do that this time."
[Understood. Shall I launch the omnipresent program?]
Grimhild nodded her head.
"Mm."
[Very well. Omnipresent Program Launch in 3... 2... 1!]
Thus, the Witch of Justice was transported back to Yggdrasil once more. She has officially died twice in this battle, leaving behind her old corpses. Standing behind Hel, Grimhild's impassive glare sent shivers up their spine.
"Huh?" Hel turned around, facing the Witch of Destruction. "So... you've returned already, huh? Tell me, just what are you?"
"I already told you, my name doesn't matter. You will be destroyed by me, and Elizabeth will come back. That is the only thing that matters in the end."
Hel frowned at her comment, holding the scythe in her hand.
"You claim to be friends with my Father, Loki, and you wield his most powerful weapon, Lævateinn! Then you come back from the complete destruction of your origins… and you have the audacity to tell me that your name doesn't matter?!"
Grimhild's expression remained unwavering, but behind them held a deep pain; one that could only be experienced by someone who's done horrible deeds and wanted redemption.
Lowering her head, the Witch of Justice sighed.
"Not many know my name. After the Age of Legends, I cast a spell that erased the memories of me across Yggdrasil in order to escape my past and hide from my misdeeds. I was scared…"
Hel lifted her brows in question, remaining quiet for her to speak.
"But there were others who remembered me… and they wrote me down in the history books. It turns out my spell wasn't strong enough to erase the memories of everyone, because I underestimated humanity once again. I was foolish. 'How could I underestimate humanity when it was a human who defeated me?' I thought to myself…"
Hel widened her eyes as she pieced things together, one by one.
"The human that defeated you… are you referring to the Mortal King, Arthur Pendragon"
Grimhild faced the Queen of Death, nodding her head.
"Yes. Arthur Pendragon was the man who defeated me and my sisters in the Age of Legends. He was the one who changed me into who I am."
"You're… the Witch of Destruction, Grimhild Yorgana!"
Grimhild averted her gaze after hearing her title as 'destruction'. It seemed to bring great discomfort.
"I was just like you in the past, Hel. I wanted nothing more than to destroy, and indulge in the destruction of the world. It was the only thing that gave meaning to my life."
"…" Hel remained quiet as a nervous look crossed her face. She finally realized who she was dealing with.
"I was sadistic, arrogant, and egotistical. The only thing that mattered to me was my own pleasure."
Grimhild lifted her staff, pointing it directly at the Queen of Death.
"That is why I'll defeat you." A magic circle appeared at the end of her staff. "Destroying you means destroying my older self. I will not let another Grimhild Yorgana of the past walk Midgard, and bring about chaos."
Hel's expression contorted into one of anger, as she approached the Witch of Justice, gripping her scythe tightly.
"I'm just like you, huh? How funny… but you're wrong, Grimhild Yorgana!" She pointed at the witch, scowling. "You were the one who failed to destroy this world, because you're a coward! Running from your past? How disgraceful! You'd rather hate your nature as destruction rather than embracing it!"
Grimhild stared them in the eyes, slightly frowning.
"Destruction brings nothing but pain and misery… if you end up killing everyone, what will you have in the end? Loneliness. Solitude. And then eventually, regret."
"And how do you know that when you didn't finish the job?"
"I've destroyed countless Prime Spheres in my lifetime, and experienced the same thing… but Yggdrasil is the world that changed me."
"Nonsense!" Shouted Hel. "How can this world, out of the countless you destroyed, change the Primordial of Destruction!? You were nothing more than a coward from the beginning, Grimhild Yorgana!"
"If leaving my past behind makes me a coward, then that's what I'll be…"
The magic circle at the tip of Grimhild's staff slowly started to change.
Manifesting in the center of the magical blueprint was the symbol of black flames; representing destruction.
Needless to say, it was Destruction Magic, though surrounding the flames of annihilation were three runes, each one representing a seal.
Other magicians had the capabilities of using Destruction Magic ever since Grimhild created its magical formula. Spells like Emil Dronta Hades were commonly used, but they were all a sealed version of this dangerous magic.
Only Grimhild had the power to use Destruction Magic in its unsealed state.
After all, she broke the first seal in her fight with Chroliosa… but now, she was breaking the second.
"Huh?" Hel suddenly jumped back in fear as an overwhelming presence rattled her to the bones. "W-What's this feeling? Something dangerous is coming…"
On the magic circle, two of the runes shattered like glass before deadly purple and black flames burst forward, surrounding the Witch of Justice's body.
"T-These flames!" Hel widened her eyes, steadily backing away. "They're the same ones used to destroy Yggdrasil all those years ago! Are you mad, witch? You'll end up taking this entire world down with you!"
Grimhild suddenly smirked, enjoying her fear.
"What's the matter? I thought you wanted to see the death of all things? Quite contradictory for you to be scared, Hel."
"No… you're insane!"
With the second seal shattered, Grimhild's destruction magic could now bring an end to not only mana but Aether itself.
"Eumen Ziel Fura!"
Launching out from the magic circle was a burst of dark and purple flames, washing away law and logic.
Unlike Eguhalvor which "removes" someone from creation itself, this spell was mocking Hel by bringing an end to all stories, ideas, and phenomenon.
The ultimate parody.
"You madwoman!!"