Bab 158: "Chapter 158: Meeting of the Demon King and the Hero"
After Alex left the arena and the massive stone gates closed behind him, the Colosseum erupted in celebration. Humanity was rejoicing over their first victory in Ragnarok—not just a victory, but the utter humiliation of one of the gods. The cheers swept through the stands, drowning out even the sound of the wind. Yet, where there was elation, a shadow of anger began to grow. The gods who had watched Alex and Poseidon's battle seethed with fury. Their eyes were fixed on the gates through which the mortal who had disgraced one of Olympus's own had vanished.
In the upper rows, Odin, the chief god of Valhalla, crushed the armrest of his throne into rubble with a single squeeze. His face twisted with rage, and the very air around him seemed to vibrate from his wrath.
«This has gone too far,» he rumbled, his eyes blazing.
Loki, the trickster god, who had initially watched the fight with amusement and mockery, now looked distinctly displeased. To him, the entire event had seemed like a joke—a mouse daring to challenge a lion. But now it turned out that this "mouse" was a monster crafted to slay gods.
«This outcome isn't funny anymore, not even to me,» he said coldly, though the underlying malice in his voice was unmistakable.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the Colosseum, Brunhilde and Göll were celebrating like children. Their first victory brought them immense relief, breaking the chain of defeats. They hugged, laughed, and cheered, until their joy was interrupted by a strange noise—a sound of munching and rustling.
Turning around, they saw three peculiar beings casually eating popcorn. A blue dog was clapping its paws together, animatedly discussing something in an unintelligible language. Beside it stood Rebecca, grinning widely as she gleefully snapped photos of the gods' stands.
«Ahahaha. Fuck, their faces are twisted with anger like they ate shit,» Rebecca laughed as she scrolled through the pictures. «I can't wait for them to see Alex's full power. And it's gonna be just fucking awesome!»
Her laughter only grew louder as she reached the photos of Loki, who looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon. She found his expression particularly hilarious, though she didn't yet know his name. If Rebecca had known Loki was present, she would've taken even more pictures of his anger-distorted face—just to later tease a certain flat-chested red-haired goddess they lived with.
«GIR, process these photos! Make them royally spectacular. And don't forget to include a highlight reel of the fight—everyone back home has to see this,» she commanded the robo-dog.
GIR, who had been enjoying the popcorn, turned his head toward Rebecca, popped another handful into his mouth, set the bag aside, and leapt up to grab the camera. Under the stunned gazes of the Valkyries, he connected a cable from his body to the camera, downloaded the photos, and neatly tucked it away into a special pocket on his chest.
«What… is this marvel?» Göll whispered, watching as the large device disappeared into the tiny pocket of the robo-dog.
While GIR worked, Rebecca had already started munching on his popcorn. Hearing Göll call out to her, she turned with a questioning look.
«What are these… creatures?» the young Valkyrie asked hesitantly, gesturing toward the trio.
Rebecca simply smiled and pointed to each in turn.
«That's GIR, MIMI, and Stitch. The first two are robots—GIR's a universal assistant, and MIMI's an analyst. As for Stitch… well, I think he's a space-dog.»
At the word "dog," Stitch burst into an outraged tirade in his strange language, waving his arms in indignation. Rolling her eyes, Rebecca simply poured him more popcorn to calm him down.
«Now I understand what Alex goes through trying to keep track of all of you,» she sighed, barely holding back laughter.
Brunhilde and Göll, stunned by what they saw, silently stared at the strange trio, trying to process it. GIR and MIMI seemed almost lifelike, but their metallic bodies betrayed their artificial origins. Stitch, however, remained a mystery—a talking "dog" that clapped its hands, expressed joy, and at times showed more emotion than most humans.
Göll smiled faintly, watching the creature now happily hugging a bowl of popcorn.
«These beings... are extraordinary,» she whispered, her gaze fixed on Stitch, who responded to her stare with a cheerful, almost human-like wink.
While Rebecca chatted with the Valkyries, Alex was making his way back from the arena. Meanwhile, the chief gods left the Colosseum and headed to a place called the Hall of the Gods—a sanctuary where they could rest and collect their thoughts. Most of them had gathered in Zeus's spacious chamber.
Zeus himself lounged on a luxurious sofa, still recovering from his battle with Adam. He held a steaming cup of tea, using it to relax and soothe his throat. Leaning back against the cushions, he took a sip, sighed in relief, and propped his feet up on the table.
Behind him stood Hermes and Ares, their faces dark and brooding, radiating suppressed fury. Poseidon's defeat was a blow to all the gods, but especially to the Olympians. Alex, who had unleashed his fury upon Olympus, left a lasting impression with his words, vowing to destroy the gods.
The silence was broken by Zeus:
«Why the sour faces? Why so gloomy?»
His calm tone only fanned the flames. One of the gods couldn't hold back. Shiva, the god of destruction from Indian mythology, slammed his fist on the table with a thunderous bang. His dark face burned with hatred, and his voice rang with fury.
«We don't have time for your jokes, old fool! Where did Adam get a brother?!» he roared, glaring at Zeus with eyes ablaze.
Shiva cut an intimidating figure: blue-skinned, with four muscular arms adorned with tattoos symbolizing divine power, and a glowing yellow third eye on his forehead. His anger was directed not only at humanity for daring to challenge the gods but primarily at Alex, who had killed Poseidon and publicly humiliated the gods with his threats.
Another voice joined in:
«Your brother was just killed, and you do nothing? This mortal openly defied Olympus! » Loki said, his tone calm but his eyes sharp, watching Zeus's reaction carefully.
This Loki, unlike his Danmachi counterpart, was the trickster and schemer from Norse mythology. In this world, he was like a venomous serpent hidden in tall grass. His expression remained neutral, but the tension in his voice was palpable.
«Hmm. No one expected Adam to have a brother, and there was no record of it. But one thing is certain: that man is indeed Adam's brother. His gaze is the same,» Zeus said with a calm demeanor. «However, unlike Adam, who was created to imitate us, this mortal exists solely to kill us. That's all I can tell.»
Zeus took a deep breath, set his tea down on the table, and rose to his feet. His face was shadowed, hiding the storm of sorrow and rage brewing within.
«Besides, you all watched the battles and should understand that every side faces victory and defeat. Yes, I admit, this is a heavy blow. But every side, sooner or later, encounters failure,» he said evenly, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Zeus sank back onto the couch, resting his elbows on his knees, and continued:
«We must admit that humans are strong. If one such individual has emerged, there could be others. That little Valkyrie seems genuinely intent on overthrowing us.»
His words provoked murmurs of discontent among the gods. They understood Zeus was right, but their pride made it difficult to acknowledge. Finally, Shiva broke the silence again:
«Enough with the empty words! I'll go next! I'll show these mortals what the wrath of a god means!» he roared, barely restraining his fury.
Zeus raised a hand, signaling for calm.
«Ho-ho, my friend, forgive me. But since this mortal has declared war, it is we, the gods of Olympus, who must respond. This is our battle,» he said, no longer hiding his anger.
The rage of Hermes and Ares, standing behind Zeus, had also reached its limit. They no longer masked their emotions, openly displaying their wrath directed at Alex. The other gods, observing the Olympians, nodded in agreement, sharing their indignation.
«We will not sit idly by and wait to be killed one by one,» Zeus declared firmly, looking each of them in the eye. « Mortals will not defeat us. We will show them a power that will crush any hope!»
His words resonated like a clap of thunder, prompting the other gods to silently nod in agreement.
Hermes and Ares, standing behind Zeus, also ceased holding back, their fury visibly radiating as they directed their anger toward Alex. The gods seated in Zeus's chamber saw the expressions on the faces of the Greek deities and nodded in understanding of their rage.
Alex had no idea that the gods had already accepted his challenge and decided to respond with their full strength. Though, even if he had known, it wouldn't have concerned him in the slightest. No matter how many gods of this world banded together against him, to Alex, they were nothing more than pathetic insects compared to the avatars of Nyan-Nyan he had faced in the past. One of those avatars alone could wipe out all the gods here in an instant.
Alex walked through the corridors of the Colosseum at a calm pace, leisurely taking a drag from his cigarette. Following behind him was Valkyrie Hrist, his partner in the battle against Poseidon. She had been silent since they left the arena, lost in thought. Alex glanced back over his shoulder at her.
«If you have questions, just ask,» he said evenly, continuing to walk. «But remember, the walls have ears.»
Hrist flinched, snapping out of her reverie. Memories of what she had seen while spiritually linked to Alex still pulsed in her mind. The oppressive image of the castle surrounding Alex's soul had pierced her consciousness like thorns. That soul terrified her. It was ancient, destructive, and... alien. Yet, beneath that dark exterior, Hrist had glimpsed something hidden: love and care for those close to him.
«Are you really going to carry out your plans?» she asked cautiously, avoiding his gaze.
Alex paused for a moment. He remembered that the spiritual connection between them had allowed Hrist to see his thoughts. At the realization, he only sighed, understanding that it was now impossible to hide his intentions.
«Yes, my plans remain unchanged,» he said calmly, though with a hint of warning in his voice. «But I advise you to keep them to yourself.»
«I don't care about these gods,» Hrist replied sharply, her tone suddenly shifting to one of aggression. « Let them dig their own graves and die there together. I'd even enjoy burying them.»
Alex smiled ever so slightly. Once again, he had to witness how the sweet and kind Hrist transformed into a cold and ruthless person. This duality intrigued him. She had two souls — he had felt it when they were linked. Perhaps it was related to her semi-divine nature?
As they continued on their way, Alex noticed that Hrist began asking not about his plans, but about him. She already knew who he was and what lay hidden in his thoughts, but she was curious to hear his story firsthand.
Their path led them to a group ahead. Alex saw Rebecca, Brunhild, and Göll. Three small creatures were hopping around Rebecca's feet, tangling in leashes and causing a mess. In front of them stood a tall, muscular man holding a club. Alex recognized him immediately.
«Hercules,» he muttered quietly, a trace of undisguised disdain in his voice.
This was Hercules, the hero of humanity, who had ultimately become Zeus's lapdog, barking and biting at his master's command — a sight that filled Alex with nothing but disgust. He was a symbol of Olympus, and thus, one of those Alex despised most. His steps slowed but grew heavier. Even Hrist felt the tension emanating from him.
When Alex saw Brunhild kneel before Hercules, his patience snapped.
«Though I'm not on the side to say this... I wish you luck,» Brunhild said, lowering her head.
Rebecca stood aside, bored, watching the three in front of her, though her thoughts were far from their conversation. Her gaze, drifting around, suddenly stopped on Alex, who was slowly approaching them with a grim expression. Breaking free from the tangled leashes around her, she bolted towards him.
Alex noticed his "favorite gremlin" running toward him, dragging behind her the trio of troublemakers who hadn't even realized they were being pulled across the marble floor. Rebecca crashed into Alex, wrapping herself around him like a koala. His expression softened as her arms wound around him.
The noise caused Brunhild, Göll, and Hercules to turn. Upon seeing Alex, they froze. Brunhild tensed more than the others — she knew all too well how much he hated the gods. Hercules, on the other hand, became serious, feeling the pressure emanating from Alex. It was so intense it reminded him of the day he held the heavens on his shoulders for the golden apples.
Alex hugged Rebecca tightly, and the trio of troublemakers climbed onto his body, hanging from him like fruits on a tree. But his gaze darkened once again as he looked at Hercules. Alex moved toward him, but suddenly, Brunhild stepped in front of him, spreading her arms to block his path.
He raised an eyebrow, directing a focused look at her, but she didn't back down. Sighing, Alex softened.
«It's alright, Brunhild. I'm not planning to fight. Just step aside. I want to have a word with this traitor,» he said gently, lightly poking her nose with his finger.
Alex's words about the "traitor" stunned Brunhild. She knew she couldn't argue with him. People saw Hercules as a hero, but now he stood with the gods. Hercules remained unmoved, accepting everything Alex threw at him. He had long been prepared to bear this burden.
Alex pushed Brunhild aside and stood facing Hercules, lifting his head to meet his gaze. Meanwhile, Rebecca smoothly slid off Alex, dragging the three companions behind her. An invisible tension hung between Alex and Hercules. Göll and Brunhild watched the scene with tense faces. Only Rebecca and Hrist remained calm—they knew what Alex was capable of.
«So, you are Adam's brother,» Hercules finally spoke, calmly looking Alex in the eyes.
«And you're Zeus's dog. A dog that betrayed humanity, which once considered you a hero,» Alex replied, not hiding his disdain.
Hercules remained unmoved.
«I made my choice, and I'm ready to face its consequences. This is my justice.»
«We'll see where this leads,» Alex said, averting his gaze.
He walked over to Göll, who was holding his black coat. Smiling, he placed his hand on her head and tousled her hair.
«Thanks, little one, for keeping an eye on him,» he said, taking the coat.
Göll blushed, embarrassed by his unexpected kindness, especially after how angry he'd been moments ago. Throwing the coat over his shoulders, Alex took a candy from his pocket and handed it to Göll.
«For the next fight, my man will go. He'll enter the room where you pick candidates,» Alex said over his shoulder to Brunhild as he passed by her.
He didn't look at Göll, Brunhild, or especially Hercules, whom he now considered a dead man in his mind. Alex had once admired Hercules, reading about his feats. But now, he only felt contempt for someone who had betrayed his destiny.
Approaching Rebecca, Alex scooped her up in his arms and headed toward the room where they could watch the battles without needing to confront the gods. Following Hrist's directions, they arrived at a spacious room adorned with fine fabrics and filled with refreshments. The trio of troublemakers immediately pounced on the food. Alex sat Rebecca down in a soft chair, and he stayed standing next to her.
«Are you still planning to intervene?» she asked, reclining in the chair with a mischievous tone in her voice.
Alex casually threw his coat on the couch, put his pistols back into his inventory, and lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag.
«Yes, I will intervene,» he said calmly but firmly, releasing a stream of smoke upwards.
«There are too many factors that can affect the outcome. Knowledge, experience, unexpected moves from the enemies — all of it is unknown. I can't leave such a task to outsiders. Therefore, I'll do everything I can to make the divide between the gods and humanity insurmountable. The gods must not win.»
Hrist approached with a cup of coffee and handed it to Alex.
«And how do you plan to achieve that?» she asked, studying him with her gaze.
«With magic and... other resources,» he replied, taking a sip of the coffee.
Finishing his cigarette, Alex set the cup down. His body suddenly lit up, beginning to change right before the eyes of those gathered. The light faded, and instead of the usual Alex, a completely different man stood before them.
A tall, muscular man with short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His body was covered with scars and strange white tattoos, and a torn, dirty blue cloak billowed behind him. The sight of this figure screamed of a warrior who had been through unimaginable battles.
«Call me Atreus,» Alex said in a hoarse, rough voice.
Hrist, stunned by what had happened, couldn't look away. Her instincts told her this was a completely different person, but the spiritual bond with Alex dispelled her doubts.
Rebecca, smiling, examined Alex's new appearance as if appraising goods in a market.
«I hope you're not planning on staying like this all the time. I prefer your usual look,» she remarked, taking a few pictures.
«It's temporary. I need a new identity for this battle,» he replied calmly.
Rebecca nodded and sat back down, but not before taking a couple of photos of Alex's new look to answer questions later when showing the battle footage. Hrist was still in shock because, when Alex changed, even his spiritual signature became different. He radiated completely different vibrations, and if not for their spiritual connection, Hrist would have thought this was a completely different person.
Seeing no further questions, Alex pulled a battered iron helmet from his inventory and put it on his head. The helmet completely obscured his face, leaving only a pair of golden eyes glowing from underneath it. After putting on the helmet, Alex retrieved a long spear and a strangely shaped iron shield. Attaching the shield to his arm and holding the spear in his other hand, Alex was ready to seek out Brunhild.
Walking toward the door, Alex turned his head to those still in the room.
«I'll be back soon,» Alex said, heading toward the exit. His footsteps in the heavy iron boots echoed through the corridors of the Coliseum.
Leaving the room, Alex made his way toward Brunhild. He had chosen this appearance because it symbolized a man who decided to challenge the gods and never wavered in his path. Alex had used the appearance of Pantheon from the game League of Legends.
Alex smiled beneath his helmet, thinking about how fans of this game would be surprised if they saw this man in another world, where he had challenged the gods. He also thought about what other personas he could adopt to participate in these duels.
«I need to win six more battles to gain an advantage that the gods won't be able to overcome,» Alex muttered, his iron boots echoing on the stone floor.
Each step Alex took echoed through the corridors of the Coliseum, the sound of metal striking stone reverberating as he walked. The noise continued until Alex reached the room where Brunhild was choosing the challengers. Pushing the doors open with his hand, Alex saw Brunhild pacing back and forth, a nervous expression on her face as she bit her thumbnail.
Not far away stood Göll, nervously watching Brunhild as she paced, clearly on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Nearby, a sweet-looking girl was sitting, drinking tea and behaving like an elegant lady.
The girl had light brown hair braided into two pigtails, which resembled untied brushes, a dress similar to the usual Valkyrie attire but with added red and blue tones on the skirt, and red shoes. When the door opened, it caught the attention of the three Valkyries, each reacting differently to the visitor.
«Who's this uncouth brute?» the girl scoffed, eyeing the newcomer with disdain.
Alex turned his gaze toward her, his golden eyes glowing through the gaps in his helmet, focusing on the speaker. It was Hlökk, one of the Valkyries. Her question only heightened the tension in the room.
Brunhild stepped forward, scrutinizing the new guest. Her gaze lingered on every scar, tattoo, and worn cloak that seemed to carry the weight of countless battles.
« Are you the warrior that Adam's brother spoke of?» she asked, suspicion in her voice.
«That's right. I am the nameless warrior who has come to challenge the gods that seek to destroy humanity,» Alex answered firmly with his rough voice.
Brunhild continued to study Alex's new appearance closely. She slowly approached him, wanting to examine the warrior recommended by Adam's brother. Alex calmly planted his spear into the stone floor and removed his helmet, revealing the face of a man with short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard.
«Why did you choose to participate? There are many other challengers ready to fight. Do you understand that, if you lose, even your soul will be destroyed?» Brunhild asked, observing Alex's reaction.
«Because as long as life exists, there will be those who protect it,» Alex replied in his low, rough voice, locking eyes with Brunhild.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer. She nodded, recognizing his determination and strength of spirit. Brunhild needed to know the name of the person who had voluntarily challenged the gods.
«What is your name, warrior?» she asked.
«My name is Atreus, a mortal who will sever the head of a god,» Alex declared, and his golden eyes shone even brighter.
Brunhild turned her gaze to her younger sister Hlökk, who continued to stare at Atreus with an expression of clear discontent. Seeing that Brunhild was looking at her, Hlökk irritably shook her head, clearly showing her disgust.
«Are you out of your mind? Why should I, the great and beautiful Hlökk, be forced to join forces with this... uncouth brute?!» she exclaimed, pointing a finger at Atreus.
Alex remained calm, not reacting to the fiery temper of this sweet yet capricious Valkyrie, who clearly had a "princess" complex.
«Even if you ask, sister, I won't. For a human and a Valkyrie to use Völund, their souls and hearts must be united. And I definitely don't want to unite with this boor. What if I end up just as uncouth as he is?» Hlökk crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head in refusal.
Brunhild clenched her fists, her patience running thin. Black lines appeared on her forehead, and a vein pulsed with anger.
«No refusals. The decision has already been made. You will become this mortal's partner,» she said in a cold tone.
Alex watched the argument and only smirked. Their bickering reminded him of a quarrel between two sisters — one strict and responsible, the other spoiled and stubborn. He removed his shield from his arm and carefully leaned it against the wall. The sound of his metal boots striking the stone floor caught the attention of both Valkyries. Hlökk frowned, watching as Alex knelt down to meet her gaze.
«Young child, I ask you to be my partner in this battle,» Alex said in a soft yet firm voice, looking directly into Hlökk's eyes.
Her gaze met his golden eyes. There was no trace of anger or irritation in them, only calmness and kindness. What surprised her most was that despite all her insults, Alex didn't even attempt to get angry.
«What do you mean "young child"? I might be older than you, uncouth brute!» Hlökk snapped, trying to test his patience.
A slight smile appeared on Alex's face as he observed Hlökk, who continued to act like a spoiled princess. He tilted his head slightly, looking at her with a touch of mockery.
«Then, beautiful princess, would you honor me by accepting my invitation to this dangerous dance?» Alex said with a soft, ironic intonation, extending his hand as a gesture of invitation.
Hlökk looked at his outstretched hand, then at Alex himself. His golden eyes continued to look at her with an astonishing combination of kindness and care, which both irritated her and confused her at the same time. After a brief hesitation, she finally extended her hand to his.
«This is the first and last time that I, the great and magnificent Hlökk, will join forces with such a brute as you,» she grumbled, before their hands touched.
As soon as their hands connected, Hlökk's body began to glow, gradually dissolving into the air. Her soul merged with Alex's, forming a spiritual bond. In an instant, she found herself in his spiritual realm. What she saw filled her with true terror.
Dark whirlwinds, hiding destructive power, and a dark, grim castle, which seemed to float like a planet around Alex's soul, with fragments of memories from battles with gods of other worlds surrounding her.
Her gaze stopped on another unexpected aspect: the spiritual thread that connected her to her sister Hrist. This revelation shocked Hlökk even more.
She suddenly realized that the man fate had tied her to was none other than Adam's brother, the very Alex who had killed Poseidon with his own trident. The weight of this realization was a powerful blow, and Hlökk lost consciousness.
Alex, unaware of what was happening with his new partner, lowered his gaze to his black gloves. He checked their condition as if it were part of his preparation ritual. After completing the inspection, he nodded to himself, tucked his helmet under his arm, and returned to the spear and shield he had left at the entrance.
«Atreus, are you sure you can defeat Hercules?» Brunhild asked seriously, carefully watching his actions.
Her doubts were understandable. She didn't know Alex's true strength or his motives. What bothered her was the fact that Adam's brother, an unknown man to the world, had volunteered to challenge the greatest of heroes.
Alex didn't give a direct answer. Calmly, he put on his helmet, hiding his face. Now, only his glowing golden eyes could be seen through the visor. He turned his head towards Brunhild and locked his gaze on her.
«They call themselves gods... But when they die, their memory is scattered by the wind,» he said coldly, turning towards the exit.
Taking the spear and shield, Alex confidently made his way toward the Arena. His goal was clear: he had deliberately adopted the persona of a simple mortal from the game League of Legends, choosing the Pantheon hero from the game solely to show the gods that even an unknown man could defeat them.
For the people, he wanted to become an example, proof that greatness was not fame or recognition, but the determination to move forward despite all obstacles. Alex wanted to convey one message: even the most insignificant person could leave a mark if they dared to act.
To be continued...
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GreedHunter
GreedHunter Another day and another chapter. I decided to reread this manga again, and I can say that the whole plot dances only because it shows the past of the fighters, and this takes up a whole chapter of the manga. Ugh, you don't need to do that, and I won't do it. Well, in general, enjoy reading!
The author also created a P*treon and will upload chapters to it ahead of time. Well, and maybe one of the readers would like to treat me to coffee.
The author created a p*treon just to earn money for coffee so that I could cope with my ADHD, which always prevents me from thinking normally.
All chapters on P*treon are free and all this is done with the goal of collecting donations for coffee
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