A high schooler on his walk home. A flash of light. And then—clouds. Endless white clouds, floating islands of marble, and a colossal arena filled with gods.
Kanata Crow has been pulled into Valhalla, the stage of Ragnarok—the final thirteen-round battle between gods and humanity, where a single loss could mean extinction. He doesn't know why he's here. He doesn't know how he arrived. But as he watches Thor, the God of Thunder, clash with the legendary Lü Bu Fengxian, he witnesses something no
Record of Ragnarok: Shadow of the Einherjar - Collapsing passage and closed door
Morning in the heavens was quieter than anything the lower world could offer.
The alabaster palaces floating above the sea of clouds glowed in the pale light. The wind was cold and clear, sharp enough to sting the skin. Kanata Crow stood alone in a small garden behind the Valkyrie Hall, gazing up at the sky.
(That sunset yesterday was something else.)
His messy black hair stirred in the celestial breeze. His light-brown eyes stared off into the distance.
Yesterday, he'd met Göll. The youngest of the thirteen Valkyrie sisters—a girl who still couldn't forge a divine weapon. Two people without any special power, talking about everything under the twilight sky. About Lü Bu and Thor's battle. About Göll's big sisters. And about how he still had no idea why he was here.
"Kanata!"
A bright, bouncing voice rang through the garden.
He turned to see a girl in a white feathered robe running toward him. Her fluffy chestnut hair caught the morning light and sparkled. The ends flipped up slightly, bouncing with every step. The tiny white wings on her back fluttered happily too.
"Good morning! You actually came!"
Göll hopped to a stop in front of him. Her big amber eyes gazed straight up at him.
"Morning, Göll. I made a promise, didn't I?"
Kanata found himself smiling. The air around Göll was warm and soft. She had that effect—just being near her made you want to smile.
"Yeah! But I thought maybe you wouldn't come. I mean, heaven's nights are cold, and the gods are always walking around..."
"Well, a lot happened, but I managed."
Kanata gave a wry smile. Truth was, he'd barely slept last night—too cold, too tense. He'd hidden in the shadows, flinching at every footstep of the passing gods, waiting for dawn.
Göll stared at his face for a moment.
"...You know, you really should've just come to my room. I could've hidden you from my sisters."
"I appreciate that. But I can't cause you trouble. Besides, a guy sneaking into a girl's room is... problematic on a lot of levels."
"Huh? What's problematic?"
Göll tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. Her innocence left him at a loss for words.
"I mean—it's complicated. Grown-up stuff."
"Hmm? I don't really get it, but if you're okay, then it's fine!"
Göll beamed.
"Anyway, you're going to see my big sister today, right? Before that, let me show you around heaven a little!"
"Show me around?"
"Yep! You've only walked around near the colosseum, right? There are so many beautiful places up here. But the main streets are full of gods, so let's take the back ways!"
She grabbed his hand.
It was small and warm.
"Whoa—"
"This way! Come on!"
Göll pulled him along, running. The little wings on her back flapped with delight.
Kanata couldn't bring himself to pull his hand away.
(Göll's hand is so warm.)
His heart beat a little faster.
He'd felt it yesterday too—what was this feeling? Around Göll, he could forget, just for a moment, that he was an ordinary high schooler with no special power.
The two of them slipped from behind the Valkyrie Hall into a narrow passage.
Unlike the main streets, it was quiet, almost deserted. White walls stretched on endlessly, vines creeping across them here and there. The ceiling was low, and voices echoed strangely.
"Not many people come through here. The gods only use the main avenues."
Göll said it with a touch of pride.
"Huh. You really know your way around."
"Ehehe. I've been exploring this area since I was little. Don't tell my sisters, okay?"
She grinned mischievously.
The passage wound deeper. The stone walls were old, cracked in places. Unlike the grand palaces at heaven's center, this place looked like it hadn't been maintained in ages.
Kanata glanced around as they walked.
(It's kind of gloomy here. I didn't know heaven had places like this.)
"Hey, Göll. What's up ahead?"
"There's an old garden past here. Nobody comes, so the flowers grow wild—it's really beautiful. And if you go further, there's a cliff edge. The sea of clouds from there is amazing!"
Göll explained cheerfully.
"The sea of clouds, huh. I'd like to see that."
"Right? That's why I'm showing you!"
Still holding his hand, Göll led him lightly down the passage.
Then it happened.
Whoooosh...
A powerful gust of wind tore through.
The passage walls groaned. Small bits of stone clattered down from the ceiling.
"Kyaa!"
Göll clung to Kanata's arm.
"W-what the—?!"
Kanata instinctively shielded her, pressing close to the wall.
The wind grew stronger.
From deeper in the passage came an ominous sound, like something surging forward.
"Kanata, this is wrong! This isn't heavenly wind!"
Göll's voice was shaking.
"What do you mean?!"
"I don't know! But I've never felt wind like this before! Something feels really, really bad!"
The wings on Göll's back stood on end with fear.
In that instant, the ceiling caved in.
BOOOOOM!!
Massive chunks of debris rained down on them.
"Look out!!"
Kanata pulled Göll into his arms and dove to the ground.
Small stones pelted his back again and again. It hurt. But that was the least of his worries.
Eventually, the roar subsided.
Everything was pitch black.
"...Göll, are you okay?!"
Kanata shouted into the darkness.
"Y-yeah... I'm fine..."
A faint voice came from his arms.
Kanata let out a breath of relief.
"Thank god. Are you hurt?"
"I-I'm okay... What about you, Kanata? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine too. But we need to get out of here."
Kanata slowly sat up.
As his eyes adjusted to the dark, the situation came into focus.
The passage ceiling had completely collapsed. Massive rubble blocked the way forward. Behind them too. They were completely trapped.
"No way... the path is blocked..."
Göll's voice trembled on the edge of tears.
"Calm down, Göll. It's okay. We'll definitely get out."
Kanata said it as much to convince himself as her.
(This is bad. This is really bad.)
His heart pounded an ugly rhythm.
But panicking now would be the end. He was the only one who could protect Göll.
"Göll, let's take a deep breath. Nice and slow."
"O-okay..."
Still clinging to his arm, Göll tried desperately to steady her breathing.
Kanata felt along the gaps in the rubble in the darkness.
"Hey, Göll. Where does this passage lead, anyway?"
"Um... it should be a dead end... There's just an old storage room..."
"A dead end. Then we've got no choice but to clear the collapse."
Kanata put his hands on the rubble in front of him.
The stones were heavier than they looked. Some wouldn't budge under human strength.
"Damn it... so heavy..."
Kanata gritted his teeth and pushed.
His fingertips scraped raw, blood seeping through.
"Kanata, don't push yourself! Your hands are bleeding!"
Göll cried out.
"This much is nothing. Just stay back, Göll."
Kanata forced a smile.
But inside, he was panicking.
(I can't move this. What am I supposed to do?)
Then—
"...Huh?"
Göll murmured softly.
"What is it?"
"Kanata, look... over here. Wind's coming through the gap in the rubble."
Göll pointed into the darkness.
Kanata strained his eyes.
Sure enough, a faint cold breeze was flowing through a gap in the debris.
"If wind's coming through, that means there's space on the other side."
"Yeah! Maybe it connects to that storage room!"
Hope returned to Göll's voice.
"Alright, let's widen that gap. Göll, can you help?"
"Of course!"
The two of them worked together to clear the rubble.
Kanata pushed the larger stones; Göll removed the smaller ones.
After a while, they'd opened a gap just big enough for one person to squeeze through.
"We did it! We can get through!"
"Göll, you go first. I'll follow."
"But..."
"It's fine. If anything happens, I'll be right behind you."
Kanata gently pushed her back.
Göll nodded and slipped through the gap.
"Kanata! It's a big room over here!"
Her voice echoed back.
Kanata squeezed through after her.
It was a dimly lit stone chamber.
The ceiling was high, old candelabras lining the walls. Thick dust covered the floor. And at the back of the room, an ancient stone staircase led downward.
"What is this place..."
Kanata looked around.
"...Um, Kanata."
Göll's voice was suddenly serious.
"Hm?"
"Don't go down those stairs. And don't open the door at the bottom."
The usual smile had vanished from Göll's face.
Her big amber eyes stared at him earnestly.
"Why?"
"This leads to the sealed underground archive. It's where heaven keeps its most important secrets. No one's allowed in except the priests."
"The sealed underground archive..."
Kanata swallowed hard.
"My big sister told me never to come near this place. So please—just this once, don't go in."
Göll squeezed his hand tight.
Her hand was colder than before.
"...Understood. I promise. I won't go in."
Kanata looked her in the eye and said it clearly.
"Yeah. Thank you, Kanata."
Göll smiled with relief.
But that smile still held a trace of unease.
(The underground archive, huh. What on earth is hidden down there?)
A small knot formed in Kanata's chest.
He thought of that scroll he'd seen during the first round. The hooded figure hiding a scroll with the match results.
(Is that scroll connected to this archive?)
Kanata shook his head.
Right now, escape came first.
"Anyway, let's find a way out of here. Is there any other path besides that gap?"
"Yeah! It's a storage room, so there should be stairs leading up!"
The two of them searched the room.
Along the wall was an old wooden door. When they pushed it, it creaked open.
"Found it! Stairs!"
Beyond the door, a stone staircase led upward.
"Alright, let's go. Watch your step."
Kanata took Göll's hand and started up the stairs.
The staircase went on and on.
As they climbed, the air grew fresher.
"...Hey, Kanata."
"Hm?"
"What was that gust earlier? I've never felt wind like that in heaven."
Her voice was still a little shaky.
"Who knows. But I'm glad you're safe. Really."
Kanata tightened his grip on her hand, just slightly.
Göll said nothing.
But the hand that squeezed back was warmer than before.
Eventually, light appeared at the top of the stairs.
"The exit!"
They burst into the light.
It was a small plaza behind the heavenly palaces.
"Hah... we made it..."
Kanata collapsed onto the ground.
All the strength drained from his body. His palms were covered in scrapes, blood seeping through.
"Kanata, let me see your hands. ...These are awful."
Göll took his hands and peered at them with worry.
"This is nothing. More importantly—are you really not hurt, Göll?"
"I'm fine. Because you protected me..."
Göll looked down.
"I'm sorry. If I hadn't taken you down the back way..."
"Don't apologize. It's not your fault. Nobody could've predicted that gust."
Kanata patted her head gently.
"...Kanata?"
Göll looked up, startled.
"I should be thanking you for helping me. If you hadn't found that gap, I'd still be buried under the rubble."
Kanata smiled.
Göll's amber eyes welled up.
"...Yeah. I'm so glad you're okay."
Göll smiled through her tears.
Seeing that smile, something tightened deep in Kanata's chest.
(I want to protect that smile.)
He meant it from the bottom of his heart.
Then—
"What are you doing here?"
A low voice rang across the plaza.
They spun around.
Three priests in white robes stood at the plaza entrance, appearing from nowhere.
"...Priests..."
Göll's face went pale.
The priests looked down at them with expressionless eyes.
"We were investigating the cause of the collapse. You two know something about it."
The elder priest in the center spoke.
"U-um, this is..."
Göll faltered.
Kanata stepped in front of her without thinking.
"I was walking around here on my own and got caught up in it. Göll was just looking for me."
"A human, wandering the back streets of heaven on his own?"
The priest's eyes pierced through Kanata.
"Th-that's not it! I was showing Kanata around. I was the one who ch
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.