Epic Of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2447: Visiting Vanaheim

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Hel finally beheld the surface world's beauty after hundreds of thousands of years confined within Helheim. The vast blue sky, the radiant sun, and the drifting white clouds left her utterly speechless. Her awe deepened as she gazed downward, taking in the lush forests of Vanaheim and Alfheim, and the majestic mountains of Midgard.

A cool, refreshing breeze caressed her body. Her long white hair danced gently as she absorbed the vibrant surroundings. She breathed deeply, savoring air rich with life and spiritual energy. A profound sense of relief and joy washed over her.

Though a goddess of death, she was not harmed by life's essence. Her greatest fear had always been that her presence might taint others, which was why she rarely ventured beyond her domain.

"Well, here we are," I said with a warm smile. "Do you like this vast, beautiful world, Hel?"

"I... I do!" Hel replied, her voice filled with wonder. "I remember visiting the Realms long ago, but now everything has merged into one immense world... and it's breathtaking. This is Yggdrasil's creation, born from Ymir's sacrifice, my mother's, and many of my siblings and the titans."

"That's right," I nodded. "So where should we go first?"

I glanced at the massive chasm linking the surface to Helheim and swiftly closed it with my Authority. The ground rumbled as tectonic plates pressed together.

RUMBLE!

In barely a minute, it was sealed. My powers had grown immensely. This authority over Creation seemed designed to mend and stabilize the wounded world.

"Now the sea won't flood Helheim anymore," Hel sighed in deep relief. "A large part of our Realm had already become a saltwater lake... Every fish or creature that entered instantly died and turned Undead."

"Well, isn't that a silver lining? A little lake for the undead to enjoy," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I-I suppose it's not too bad," Hel nodded thoughtfully. "It hasn't disrupted the ecosystem much. Perhaps it will even bring new energy over time. I'll monitor the changes through the years."

"Alright, family! Shall we have breakfast now?" I called. "Look at these stunning forests. There's a beast-kin town nearby. We could eat there with the locals."

"A-Are you sure? Won't they be terrified after everything that's happened?" Miranda asked.

"Hmm, good point," I admitted. "At least let's eat outside. I'll bring Fuyu out and wake everyone. A forest breakfast sounds perfect."

"Yay!" Benladra, Drakda, Kate, and Yudra cheered.

The four children dove toward the forest, making us worry they might get lost. We quickly followed. Vanaheim's woods were magnificent and vast, filled with vibrant flowers, tall grasses, twisting vines, and towering trees. Animals roamed everywhere.

Monkeys, birds, insects, cats, tigers, wolves, elephants—all shapes, sizes, and colors thrived in these wild lands. Not just Hel, but all of us stood in silent awe, admiring a continent we should have explored long before the final battle.

Now, with peace at last, we could finally relax. Exploring on foot felt far more immersive than floating above in Fuyu.

"There you are! Don't wander too far, you four!"

I swiftly caught the children. Even Benladra, the eldest, often acted childishly and joined her younger siblings' games.

"You caught us, Dad!" Benladra giggled.

"Nah, I can escape!" Drakda declared, opening a black void portal. "I'm not caught yet until—Eek!"

An invisible force halted him, closing the portal instantly by my will.

"Young man, we've discussed not rushing into unknown places, haven't we?" Miranda scolded gently.

"Yeah, Drakda, don't be reckless," I added. "Kate, Benladra, and Yudra too. Especially you, Benladra."

"M-Me?" Benladra blinked in surprise.

"Yes, dear. You're the oldest. You should set a responsible example for the little ones," Benladann sighed.

"Uuh... okay..." Benladra murmured. "I was just so happy the battle was over... I got excited with my siblings and flew off."

I paused, understanding her feelings completely. I walked to her side and pulled her into a warm hug.

"I know exactly how you feel. It's alright. We were worried, but let's explore together, okay?"

"Sure!" Benladra nodded brightly.

"Daddy, I'm hungry," Kate said, tugging gently at my clothes. "Can we eat now?"

"Yeah, let's settle here. It's a lovely spot," I agreed.

I noticed Yuki and Yudra had wandered off briefly. They returned carrying fresh fruits, edible mushrooms, and fish. Yudra looked adorable clutching a large catfish in her tiny mouth.

"Babah! Fwish! Fwishy!" Yudra exclaimed, wagging her fluffy tail as she ran to me and dropped the fish proudly at my feet.

"Aw, you caught this for Papa? Good girl," I said, patting her head and picking up the fish. "Shall we cook it for breakfast?"

"Hmm!" Yudra nodded eagerly.

"We found plenty of fruits nearby and lots of edible mushrooms," Yuki added. "Let's try what Vanaheim offers for a change."

"Sounds wonderful. Let's cook!" I said. "Hey Fuyu, is everyone awake?"

"Most have just risen. I'll settle... but where? The canopy is dense! There's barely space, and I don't want to crush trees or animals," Fuyu replied.

"That's fine. Stay just above the canopy. They can jump down," I suggested.

FLUOSH!

A large portal opened. Fuyu emerged from my Divine Realm, hovering above the treetops. Everyone inside leaped down, bringing food, tables, chairs, and more.

"Uncle! We just woke up! I've got a slight hangover, haha!" Helena laughed, rushing over and hugging me tightly. "Jake's up too—look how sleepy he is!"

"Uugh..." Jake groaned, barely keeping his eyes open. "G-Good morning... ugh, the sun's bright... Wait, we're not in the caves anymore?"

"Nope! We're on the surface now, in a jungle continent called Vanaheim!" I explained. "Home to beast-kin and elf tribes, I believe. Though we haven't spotted any yet."

"Sounds exciting!" Helena beamed. "Right, girls?"

"Wait, where's Surtr? Did he leave?" Lucia asked, glancing around.

"He did. Sorry. He didn't want to wake you," I said. "He told me if you want to visit, he'll welcome you anytime..."

"Ah... He has his own life now, huh? But I could stay with him for a few months... What do you think, Chris?"

"I... sure. It's only fair," Chris nodded. "I'll go anywhere with you."

"Aw," Lucia smiled, hugging the burly man and kissing him tenderly.

A lot must have happened between them while I was distracted.

"Wait, who's Surtr?" Helena asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Hahaha, he's my brother! He reincarnated here like your uncle!" Lucia laughed. "A big red dragon!"

"No way! So you have a fire dragon brother, and I have an ice dragon uncle?!" Helena exclaimed. "That's wild... Wait! How did your brother... you know, pass on before reincarnating?"

"He... died when our house burned down," Lucia said softly. "We caught the culprit—the Pyrotechnic. A criminal obsessed with arson..."

"He targeted homes of those with Esper potential, trying to kill them before they awakened," Chris explained. "He murdered a dozen young, unawakened Espers before we stopped him."

"Oh..." I murmured, surprised.

"But that's the past," Lucia said with a gentle smile. "Things are different now. I want to believe they're better... Though I'm a bit worried about Earth."

"Me too..." Chris agreed.

"If you want to return, it won't be hard," I reassured them. "We can find a portal... But for now, let's enjoy breakfast."

As everyone gathered, we began cooking. We prepared the fresh catches from Yuki and Yudra, along with classic dishes: scrambled eggs with bacon, toast, pancakes, waffles, and more.

"Um, Drake?"

As I finished a stack of pancakes for the kids, Ruby approached shyly.

She wore a lovely red and black dress and subtle makeup, looking like an exquisite little doll.

"Oh, Ruby. What's up? Want something specific? I have blood if that's it."

"N-No, I'd love those pancakes. They look delicious."

"Really? I thought you preferred blood and meat."

"I'm a Dhampir... half-human. So... um, I enjoy sweet and juicy things too! I've eaten them often. Didn't you notice?"

"Ah, sorry. My memory's been foggy lately. Maybe I'm just exhausted."

"Hm... It's fine. You've done so much... You deserve rest." She paused, glancing at her dress and blushing faintly.

Did she want a compliment?

I wasn't oblivious.

"You look beautiful in that dress," I said sincerely.

"Really?! You mean it?" Ruby beamed, cheeks rosy.

"Yeah, and the ponytail suits you perfectly. It's lovely."

"Drake... you noticed..." Ruby smiled warmly. "T-Thanks...! I-I gotta go!"

"Eh?" I watched her dash away, transforming into small shadow bats and fluttering back to her mother and Rakasha.

Was she trying to impress me? Or perhaps someone else? I wondered who had captured her young heart. Probably someone we'd meet later.

"Alright, time to eat!"

I carried the dishes to the tables. My dragon-shaped Cooking Spirits, wearing tiny white chef hats, floated about, serving everyone efficiently.

I settled onto a small throne of black ice that Benladann crafted for me. She brought over her own creation, a hearty plate of fish, mushrooms, rice, and fresh fruits.

"Here you go, dear. You always do so much for us. Just sit and relax," she said, kissing my lips and forehead tenderly.

"Thank you. I can't say I mind being spoiled sometimes," I laughed, tasting the meal. "Hmm! This fish is incredible!"

Though simple, the flavors were exquisite. The river fish were juicy and perfectly seasoned. I even crunched the head and bones—easy for a dragon.

The fruits resembled Earth varieties but with vibrant twists: pink pears, purple strawberries, golden apples, rainbow-hued bananas—all infused with rich spiritual energy unique to this region.

"Hmm! So this is breakfast... It's heavenly. You eat like this every morning? I might gain weight indulging so much," Hel said between bites, unable to stop devouring syrup-drenched pancakes topped with fruit. "So delicious, and it's not even meat...!"

"There's so much more food waiting for you," I smiled. "Take it easy."

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