This is a story from a very, very long time ago, about five hundred years ago.
In a small town in Persia, there lived a very intelligent young boy.
He was born into a middle-class merchant family in the city and was an only child. Although he was not of noble (divine) birth, his parents were very devoted to their children, and he received a good education.
Moreover, from a young age he possessed extraordinary intelligence and the ability to see through the essence of things. Everyone who knew him was astonished by his exceptional talent and intelligence. His wisdom far exceeded what one would expect for his age, and his martial arts skills were comparable to those of the finest Persian warriors.
That was a turbulent era of frequent wars. The god-kings, along with their noble divine races, waged wars everywhere, plundering territories and people, repeating cycles of brief peace and long-lasting conflict.
This coincided with the dawn of arcane magic, a period when magical techniques were gradually becoming more systematic. The power of "magic," previously possessed only by the divine nobility, began to flow into the hands of ordinary mortals. To defeat other divine races in enemy territories, the gods distributed magical techniques among their subordinates, transforming mortals—who had previously played supporting roles in the army—into mortal arcane mage units. Thus, with this newfound power, the voice and horizons of the ordinary mortal class naturally expanded significantly.
He—that boy—learned magic at an unparalleled speed. In fact, after only a year of study, he began to correct his mentor's mistakes and offer his own insights into the emerging theories of arcane magic and the details of using ley line energy.
As he grew into adulthood, he increasingly saw the incompetence and folly of the Persian god-kings of his time, and his disappointment and anger grew ever stronger. Those who eat meat are despicable. These feudal gods, preoccupied with consolidating their rule or expanding their territory and power, were nothing but lustful tyrants.
If that were all, it would be fine. If the people could be protected in the end, then even a tyrant full of desires wouldn't matter.
But what is the reality? The mortal people, whose numbers far exceed those of the gods, live in poverty and hardship. Frequent wars and chaos only add to their suffering and make their lives more miserable, with no hope of improvement in sight.
The divine nobles, on the other hand, remained oblivious to their own apathy and inaction. An absolute, insurmountable gap existed between the two classes, based on blood ties.
The boy possessed all-seeing eyes; he traversed every inch of Persia, yet all he saw was strife and suffering. He was troubled by the misery of his people, and his yearning for change so intense that his comfortable merchant family life no longer brought him joy. Every night he tossed and turned in bed—he possessed the happiness that ordinary people crave, yet his heart was filled with torment.
In search of a land where people could live in peace and tranquility, he left home and began his travels. But he could not find such a land anywhere. Every country seemed to repeat the cycle of brief peace followed by prolonged strife. He wandered aimlessly, searching for a peaceful and tranquil world... and gradually began to realize that he should seek a way to bring peace to the world and ensure that all living beings could find peace and happiness.
So he sought out renowned teachers, learning from various emerging mortal sorcerers and even deities. Soon he mastered everything they taught, becoming one of the most outstanding sorcerers of his time, and could find no more teachers. In just a few years, he cultivated to the point of immortality and eternal youth, becoming a perpetually youthful being.
This is a level that many people strive for their entire lives but cannot reach, yet it still cannot satisfy the boy's needs.
During that time, he met one, two, three... a total of seven friends. They were both men and women, all sharing the same ideals and aspirations, and all were mortal monks. They all vowed to dedicate themselves to this ideal and cause.
That being said, how could a few passionate mortal mages possibly overthrow this deeply entrenched feudal system of the gods? The gods possess the power to lift mountains, split seas, and summon wind and rain at will; a single word from them could kill a mortal. Their power is clearly insufficient.
So he finally made a decision.
He told his friends that he was going to the southwestern wilderness—the endless desert—to complete his final trial and enlightenment. Many of his friends objected, but ultimately had to agree. The boy then left Persia and entered the desert wilderness alone, where countless lives had been buried, where he remained for fifty days.
Only he himself knew what had happened during those fifty days of isolation. Even Miaoshan, who was the first to find him returning from the desert and brought him back to recuperate in his skeletal form, never heard him mention anything about this experience.
Whatever happened during those fifty days, he did indeed undergo a tremendous change during that time.
He seemed to have a thousand dreams, each containing the story of a different person, yet each person was himself. He saw through time and fate, gaining supreme wisdom that purified all the flaws in his spirit and body, and comprehending the true meaning of life and death. He saw the light, and his calm, composed wisdom entered the perfect realm of tranquil insight.
His magic had reached its pinnacle, and the power he wielded was now as great as that of the false gods who enslaved humanity.
He led seven friends, and the group, fearless, strode toward the palace, overthrew the then Persian god-king, and defeated and sealed away the fallen angel.
But this is only the first step, because there are many more god-kings, tyrants, and their divine nobles ruling and oppressing the world. The boy cannot defeat the entire world by himself and his seven friends alone.
Fortunately, he knew that there were many ordinary magicians in the world who had also risen from the ranks of the common people and were rebelling against the gods in various places.
Therefore, he would expose the true nature of these so-called gods and nobles to all mortals in the world: they were nothing but a group of shameless scoundrels posing as gods. He would not stop until all living beings were freed from their oppression; he would reshape the world and bring peace and a new, happy life to all.
He wants to unite other human magicians around the world who are rebelling against the gods. He wants to unveil the veil that blinds the rebels. He wants all living beings to see the truth about the so-called gods and stand up to resist. He wants mortals to form a new super soldier army. He wants to eliminate all the evil and brutal god rulers in this world.
...He had considered it a lot and planned it very well.
He has only one flaw, and the older he gets, the stronger he becomes, and the more knowledge he acquires, the more obvious this flaw becomes, and he is never even aware of it.
Arrogance sows the seeds of karma.
Countless years have passed since then.
Until that moment finally arrived.
--------------------------------
When he came to his senses, Hayden found himself standing on a small hill.
The surrounding area was filled with dark, lush forests, and the rivers flowing through the land had crystal-clear water; the air was fresh. Although the air was very cold, even this chill was pleasantly refreshing. Artificially created, pleasant air would never have this kind of icy feeling.
Hayden took a deep breath, savoring the ancient air, and then said, "With this temperature and so many forests, we must have fallen into the Tohoku region of Japan four hundred years ago?"
He now knows that Asmodius was pushed to the northeast of Japan by the New Gods' army and was on the verge of complete destruction when he desperately staged a chaotic summoning ritual in the Ashihara Kingdom.
Ancient northeastern Japan was extremely cold. Winters were long, and rugged mountains stretched across the frozen landscape. Dense forests were inhabited by yokai (supernatural beings) who repelled outsiders… Even within the entire Japanese archipelago, northeastern Japan was the most inhospitable place, boasting the harshest natural environment. [Ashihara Province] was also located in northeastern Japan.
So Hayden guessed that he was supposed to be pulled to the summoning site in [Ashihara Country], but the time magic malfunctioned, so he was pulled to a similar place at a similar time.
However, Angela, standing beside him, shook her head: "That's not necessarily true, Master. It's impossible for time to move without spatial movement. Even if our spatial coordinates remain fixed, relative movement is still possible. Moreover, the same applies to the world moving."
Hayden scratched his head, realizing it was indeed true. The Earth rotates on its axis while simultaneously revolving around the sun. From this perspective, it's truly fortunate we weren't thrown into outer space…
He closed his eyes and checked his magical power—it was perfectly normal. Although he had traveled four hundred years, Hayden's magical abilities were completely unaffected.
However, on the other hand, it is natural that Hayden can no longer connect with the power of his many friends, such as Karen and New Sprout City.
"Hmm... I should be able to easily defeat a Lesser God-level opponent on my own, but I'm afraid it would be difficult to win against a Greater God-level opponent in a skirmish..."
As he inspected the document, Hayden muttered to himself.
"However, the natural forces of this era are easier to utilize, so perhaps we can change our tactics. Besides, the gods of this era, whether they are old gods or newly emerging gods, are still weaker than those four hundred years from now..."
Technology is constantly advancing. A bodhisattva from four hundred years ago is certainly not as powerful as a bodhisattva from four hundred years later. Based on this calculation, Hayden should still be able to defeat the great god from four hundred years ago.
"...Speaking of which, Angela." Thinking about this, Hayden finally realized a problem, "How do we go back four hundred years?"
Angela tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said seriously, "Either you develop the technique to go back here, or... stay here for four hundred years, and you will naturally return to four hundred years in the future."
Yes, that's true. Anyway, Hayden is already an immortal being, so staying here for four hundred years won't hurt. Maybe he can even take the opportunity to cultivate for four hundred years and close the gap between him and Mithra...
"No!" Hayden then snapped out of his daze and quickly refused, "I don't want to! If I really did that and spent four hundred years in ancient times cultivating in asceticism, I feel like my personality would become twisted!"
“You have far too little confidence in yourself,” Angela sighed. “Even if we take a step back, it’s still important to understand your current spatial and temporal context, isn’t it?”
That's absolutely true. So Hayden nodded and said, "Let's go and check the surrounding area first. We should be able to see people once we leave the forest. Once we have people, it will be easier to confirm the time and space context."
These are not wrong either.
"Walking?" Angela asked, somewhat surprised. "Wouldn't flying be faster?"
“The last thing we have in abundance right now is time. And if this really is four hundred years ago, then flying magic wasn’t common among mortals.” Hayden frowned. “Only gods and a few elite mortal mages could fly. If we just fly out randomly, people might misunderstand our identities and cause us trouble.”
Casting an invisibility spell is one way, but using such a thing could also be detected by others. There is no foolproof illusion; casually casting an illusion in front of a master can easily give you away.
At this point, Hayden stomped his foot forcefully on the forest floor from four hundred years ago: "Besides, as the saying goes, only by keeping your feet on the ground can you truly see the world. Flying high in the sky without touching the earth will only make people on the ground seem insignificant and impossible to understand."
Although it was just a metaphor, or even a half-joke, Angela was still amused and smiled slightly: "Well, you have a point."
So they decided to walk. The two of them wandered aimlessly and idly through the small wooded area for a while.
Until Hayden heard some sounds coming from a very distant place.
That was the sound of clashing weapons, battle cries... and the sound of death.
He and Angela exchanged a glance and quickly ran towards the sound.
What then appeared before Hayden was something he truly hadn't expected at all.
The first thing that catches the eye is a wall.
The wall was extremely long, stretching as far as the eye could see. Thick, sturdy stone pillars were arranged as closely as hair, forming a massive barrier that was over two hundred meters high.
Just seeing the city wall gave Hayden a bad feeling. Then he saw the battle taking place on the wall.
The side attacking the city walls was the Protoss, and clearly the Old Gods. They were tall, clad in intricately woven and sturdy chainmail, wielding massive axes, and their skin was a pale blue-white like glaciers—and they were all around 2.5 meters tall.
They were giants, warriors of the Old Gods, frost giants, each possessing brute strength and a massive physique capable of easily crushing mere humans. Though the walls were high, they could scale them like siege towers by freezing them with frost into enormous staircases.
Meanwhile, a group of mortals were holding their ground against the giants, relying on the high walls for cover. They wore steel breastplates and wielded spears and halberds to fight the giants, using the high walls to thrust and stab with their spears, engaging the giants who possessed an overwhelming physical advantage.
Besides melee weapons, they also had cannons and rifles on the walls. These firearms, inscribed with runes and magic, roared incessantly, showering the frost giants with fire and death.
So this sight really stunned Hayden.
This is not the Tohoku region of Japan. Anyone can see that this is definitely not Japan four hundred years ago.
This is Europe, Europe about four hundred to four hundred and fifty years ago.
It is the ongoing war between the old and new gods, on the Germanic/Nordic battlefield.
404: Not Found
"Why!? Why did we end up in Northern Europe over four hundred years ago? What happened to the promised timeline shift!?"
...Despite Hayden's complaints, to be honest, he was lucky not to have been thrown into outer space five hundred years ago.
While Hayden won't necessarily die in space, his return to Earth will likely be extremely difficult. Teleportation is nearly impossible to use when relative spatial coordinates are uncertain. Angela has the means to travel at the speed of light, but as everyone knows, the speed of light isn't actually that fast in the vast universe…
“I think the deviation from northeastern Japan to Northern Europe is quite low,” Angela said leisurely, then looked with interest at the distant battlefield. “Master, the fighting over there is quite interesting.”
Hayden followed her gaze but shook his head: "Neither side has shown their true abilities yet, what's there to see?"
Did they not show their true abilities?
These frost giants, towering at two and a half meters tall, wielded massive axes that smashed through walls with a force no less powerful than a large catapult. While their ability to spew clouds and mist may not seem flashy, these frozen clouds and mists could be transformed into siege ladders, making them a practical tactic.
However, Hayden gave a very harsh assessment. Therefore, the main reason for the lack of appeal wasn't a lack of strength, but rather that "they didn't show their true abilities."
...What exactly is this so-called real skill?
In short, the frost giants' siege lasted for some time, but they eventually appeared to be driven back. The dust-covered, wounded giants retreated from the massive ice ladders, making their way back in small groups. The mortal defenders on the high walls continued their pursuit, firing cannons, but the enormous ice ladders limited their effectiveness.
At that moment, Hayden said, "The real thing is coming."
As soon as the words were spoken, a cold wind blew up from behind the giants. From that wind emerged a new giant. He was a head taller than the other giants, and wore magnificent plate armor that shone with a proud, bluish-green luster. His strong chest was supported by a matching blue beard.
But none of that is the main point. The real point is that as the giant walked forward, his body rapidly grew larger, increasing with every step he took. He started at about three meters tall, then grew to five meters after just a few steps, and then to ten meters—by the time he reached the city wall, he was almost as tall as the two-hundred-meter-high wall!
The defenders on the city wall concentrated all their firepower on the colossal giant, but the giant blocked it all with his armored arms! It was no use! Instead, the giant raised his enormous ice axe, which was as tall as him, and slammed it down on the city wall!
With a deafening thud, a crack appeared in the city wall. However, it seemed far from being able to split it open completely.
"What Attack on Titan..." Hayden couldn't help but complain.
Angela didn't understand tired tropes. But looking at the newly arrived giant, she nodded: "I see, this is the real fight."
“The size of the Scandinavian ancient gods’ giants varies greatly depending on the purity of their bloodline, which also determines their social class,” Hayden explained. “A three-meter-tall frost giant is just a lowly soldier like a frost giant swarm. This one is the real deal… but two hundred meters tall is indeed very powerful. He must be a high-ranking noble with direct descendant angel blood.”
This 200-meter giant's combat power can be seen just by watching him chop down the city wall. He should be about the same as Pania, who had just become a god. Don't criticize Pania for not being that strong when she first became a god. You have to remember that this was more than 400 years ago.
Whether it's the frost giant capable of unleashing devastating power comparable to a modern god, or this 200-meter-long city wall that can withstand his attacks, they are both truly remarkable.
“I do see some traces of Azazel in him, probably a descendant of about three generations.” Angela frowned. “Master, if I were seen by the fallen angels in this era, my identity would be exposed immediately. We need to be careful about that.”
That's quite normal, since there's no Mitra interfering anymore... Hayden thought of this and suddenly realized: "...So how much combat power do you have now?"
Angela twirled her fingers, sensed for a moment, and replied, "The true name is still unknown, and there are some limitations. It's probably similar to the Guanyin Bodhisattva I saw last time."
...She hasn't even found her true name yet, but just this already gives her the combat power of the second-best Bodhisattva in the modern world, and she's using the Valkyrie leader's mecha! Hayden immediately gained great confidence in Angela's full power. But then again... "If you already have the combat power of a modern-day Guanyin Bodhisattva, doesn't that mean you could single-handedly suppress the entire world..."
“Theoretically, it might be possible,” Angela calmly retorted, “but playing with time like this won’t end well. Even disregarding ethics and your own grandfather paradox, have you considered that this would almost certainly erase Miss Karen and the others from time travel?”
Uh, that makes sense.
"Time and spacetime are not my area of expertise, but I think you should focus more on your own goals. Don't always try to take shortcuts with strange methods."
Wow, she sounds so serious! Hayden had no choice but to nod obediently. Coincidentally, at that very moment, the battle on the other side of the city wall had also reached a certain point.
The mortal defenders on the wall were helpless against the minor god-level frost giant general; even rune-inscribed cannonballs and gunfire couldn't harm this monster. Despite its enormous size, the giant was remarkably agile. With its right hand, it cleaved the wall with a giant axe, while a casual sweep of its thick left arm could fell hordes of mortal soldiers. The mere aftershocks of its attacks snapped the necks of hundreds, tore limbs from their torsos, and sent their entrails flying.
Even Hayden, watching from a great distance, couldn't help but frown: "Tsk."
To say he didn't want to get involved would be impossible. With Hayden's current strength, it wouldn't be difficult for him to blast the Frost Giant General's head off from such a long distance—but is it really a good thing for a time traveler to interfere with the past?
Who cares!
He drew his conclusion in a second, raised his staff, and began to aim!
Angela didn't stop him.
However, just as Hayden had already aimed at the frost giant general in the distance and started casting, he saw something flash in the blue sky—on the other side of the city wall.
Immediately following was a deafening roar of thunder!
A bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, hitting the frost giant general on the head and forcing him back from the wall. Then the lightning struck the high wall, revealing a humanoid figure.
He was a dashing young man. His slightly wavy red hair grew past his shoulders, and he was very handsome with deep-set features and a muscular build. Judging by his appearance alone, he was probably not yet thirty years old. He wore a feathered helmet, chainmail, iron gauntlets, and a gold belt, and held a hammer—a short-handled, heavy steel hammer engraved with runes.
He is a god who will be famous in the future, and Hayden can recognize him at a glance.
"Thor is here!"
The strongest hero, the guardian of humanity, the creator of giant widows, the god of thunder, the god of hammers!
Although Thor may not yet be considered a "god" in the social sphere, his power is definitely greater than that of the Frost Giant General, an Old God! Much greater!