Sheng Qi's evaluation of the gemstone on the necklace was level 4, which greatly surprised Rowe.
El, holding the dazzling necklace in her hands, beamed with joy. However, after a moment, her expression shifted as if she had just realized something.
"Hey… where did you get the money for this?" she asked suspiciously.
Rowe smirked. "Remember when I told you I had an idea for a formula?"
El furrowed her brows. "What formula?"
"The one that uses green chip grass—a hair restorer formula. I made some money selling it," Rowe explained casually.
In truth, he had considered telling El about the hair restorer from the start, but he had been hesitant. If his uncle found out, it might lead to unnecessary trouble, so he had kept it to himself until now.
El blinked in surprise. "Wait… you mean you're the one who sold that hair restorer that's been circulating lately?"
Rowe grinned. "Of course."
El remained silent for a few seconds, staring at him in disbelief.
"The formula is recorded in the Greenhilde Pharmacopoeia," Rowe added. Then, stepping forward, he embraced his cousin. "I should go, El."
El's eyes turned slightly red, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress her emotions.
Rowe chuckled. "Come on, it's not like I won't be back. I didn't cry when you left, and you're already over a thousand years old."
Women were always sensitive about their age. Even though a thousand years was still considered young for an Asgardian, Rowe never missed an opportunity to tease El about it. Usually, she would react with annoyance, but this time, she simply exhaled and composed herself.
"Take care of yourself," she said softly.
"Don't worry."
"I'll take you to the Rainbow Bridge," El insisted.
Rowe quickly shook his head. "It's just a trip to Vanaheim, not some grand farewell ceremony. I can go by myself."
He had another reason, too—he needed to retrieve Verrigan's Fist from Skorche, and he didn't want El to see it.
"I have to leave quickly," he added. "Lord Ullr won't wait for me."
El hesitated but ultimately nodded. Rowe gave her one final wave before turning and walking away.
---
At a nearby intersection, Skorche stood waiting, Verrigan's Fist in hand.
"Took you long enough," Skorche said, handing him the hammer.
"Who told me to have a sister?" Rowe replied lightheartedly. He slung the warhammer over his shoulder, the weight a familiar comfort, then turned to Skorche with a grin.
"Hey, what do you think it's like to travel through the Rainbow Bridge?"
Skorche shrugged. "I heard from Randolph that once the bridge activates, we'll enter a rainbow-colored passage and arrive at our destination in no time."
Rowe raised an eyebrow. "Randolph? Your brother in the Berserkers?"
Skorche nodded. "Yeah, I even tried out his Berserker Cane once."
Rowe was intrigued. "How was it?"
Skorche recalled the experience with a thoughtful frown. "Well… I felt power surging through my entire body, but I couldn't control it properly. My mind wasn't clear, and I had this overwhelming urge to destroy something."
He paused, then added, "Oh, right. My father had been working on some stone sculptures for over a month… and, uh, I might have shattered them in that state."
Rowe smirked. "Might have?"
"When I woke up, Randolph told me I did, but honestly, I don't remember it."
Rowe chuckled as they continued walking toward the Rainbow Bridge gate.
---
To enter the Rainbow Bridge, one first had to pass through an entrance gate, which only permitted authorized individuals to cross.
A small group of Asgardian warriors had already gathered near the gate—around a dozen people. At the front stood a black-haired young man with a serious expression. Upon spotting Rowe, he stepped forward.
"Healer Rowe Garrison?" the man asked.
"Yes." Rowe nodded.
"I'm Cole, the captain of this unit. You'll be traveling with us to Camp No. 3 in Vanaheim," Cole informed him.
"Understood."
With that, Rowe joined the group, waiting patiently until the last of their companions arrived.
Finally, the gate opened, and a brilliant, multi-colored bridge stretched across the sky before them.
Rowe's breath hitched.
The Rainbow Bridge was more than just beautiful—it was majestic. It extended over the Sea of Marmora, its dazzling light arching from the gate all the way to the edge of Asgard. Beyond it, the vast cosmos stretched infinitely, filled with distant stars twinkling in the darkness.
Rowe stood in awe, unable to look away.
"Move out!" Captain Cole commanded.
Rowe patted Skorche on the shoulder. "I'm off."
With that, he followed the group onto the bridge.
They soon reached the Teleportation Hall, the northernmost structure in Asgard, standing at the very border of the realm.
Inside, golden walls were adorned with intricate runes, their glow pulsating faintly.
At the center of the hall stood a colossal warrior, clad in a snow-white fur cloak and a horned helmet. His dark skin contrasted with the golden glow of the room, and his expression was calm yet imposing—like an immovable mountain.
This was Ullr, the God of Winter and Hunting, one of Asgard's most powerful deities. He had served as gatekeeper of the Bifrost since the reign of King Cul Borson, Odin's father.
Captain Cole stepped forward and saluted. "Lord Ullr, we are under orders to report to Camp No. 3 in Vanaheim."
Ullr gave a slow nod, his thick beard shifting slightly as he spoke. "Prepare yourselves. I will open the Rainbow Bridge."
He then added, "For those who have never traveled the Bifrost, I suggest grabbing hold of a companion. That is the gatekeeper's advice."
Rowe glanced around. It seemed that everyone except him had already traveled through the Rainbow Bridge before, as none of them reacted to the warning.
He hesitated for a moment, then turned to the tallest young man in the group.
"Mind if I hold onto you?" Rowe asked.
The man chuckled. "Of course."
Rowe grabbed his arm as Ullr raised his massive sword and plunged it into the teleportation mechanism.
Lightning crackled.
The teleportation hall lit up in a blinding flash, and within moments, Rowe found himself engulfed in a swirling tunnel of colors.
He glanced around in shock. The passage was a spectrum of shifting hues, seemingly endless, yet he could faintly see the stars of the universe beyond its walls.
His stomach lurched as he lost his footing.
Rowe flailed slightly, tilting forward, but the tall young man quickly grabbed him and steadied him.
"Thanks," Rowe muttered, trying to regain his balance.
"Just stand still," the man advised with a grin. "It'll be over in a second."
Indeed, within moments, the rainbow tunnel vanished.
Rowe blinked. They were no longer in Asgard.
Instead, they stood in the middle of a dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and lush vegetation.
In the distance, a small open clearing could be seen—Camp No. 3. Several Asgardian soldiers patrolled the area, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
"Welcome to Vanaheim," the tall warrior said. He turned to Rowe and smiled. "By the way, my name is Ander."
Rowe nodded. "Rowe. Nice to meet you."
Ander chuckled. "You're a healer, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, then…" Ander patted his shoulder. "I'll be counting on you to keep me alive."