You can see on the area near the throne, he still appears and stops you in your tracks, even thought he is now retired...

Who are you, and why are you here.

Surtr looks down at you with a serious face, while holding his axe, Hel Suprema. You can tell something happened to him beforehand, because of his tense and easily angerable nature. He also looks... way older than before like if the flame is soon to be ash...