บท 45: CHAPTER 45

Freya abruptly halted the giant sword in her hand, causing her discomfort.

"Brother? Why are you here? You're not..."

Subconsciously, Freya looked back and saw Frey behind her, gazing at her.

In that moment, Freya's heart sank.

She turned her head, and it was still Rhodes. Rhodes lightly tapped the giant sword in front of her, making her grip loosen until she held only the hilt.

Rhodes looked at Freya with a smile.

It was only then that Freya realized she had been tricked. The person she had seen earlier wasn't her brother, but Rhodes.

Freya felt humiliated like never before.

"Damn Asgard, I'm going to kill you."

Freya threw the hilt of the sword to the ground and launched a melee attack on Rhodes.

Freya's close combat skills were decent, and her punches carried great strength.

However, Freya's fists always missed Rhodes narrowly.

Rhodes dodged Freya's attacks with ease.

Frustrated, Freya exclaimed, "If you have the guts, challenge me one-on-one. Don't hide all the time. What kind of man are you?"

Rhodes pretended to suddenly understand and said, "Oh, so you don't like playing hide-and-seek; you prefer close encounters. I understand."

Rhodes then moved towards Freya.

Freya, frightened, quickly tried to evade, but Rhodes always managed to touch her.

Rhodes reached out and pulled Freya's arm, and she ended up in Rhodes' embrace.

Rhodes leaned halfway, supporting Freya's back with his right arm, and Freya leaned against Rhodes.

Rhodes showed a gentlemanly smile.

"Is that so, Miss Freya?"

Face to face with Rhodes at such close range, Freya couldn't help but notice his handsomeness, making her feel embarrassed.

"I can't believe I'm finding my enemy handsome," Freya thought, feeling awkward.

After a brief daze, Freya regained her composure and struggled to break free, but her attempts were futile.

Rhodes, with a hint of helplessness, said, "Ma'am, you requested intimate contact earlier. Why change your mind now?"

"I never agreed to that! Let me go, you rotten scoundrel."

"Please, my name is Rhodes. I'm not a scoundrel."

Reluctantly, Rhodes released Freya.

Without saying a word, Freya raised her fist and hit Rhodes in the face.

Rhodes grabbed Freya's hand.

"Sneak attacks aren't honorable," Rhodes remarked, taking Freya's hand and pulling her closer.

Freya was shocked and desperately tried to break free from Rhodes' control, but she found it impossible.

Rhodes actively led Freya's attacks, and even her movements seemed influenced by him.

This situation left Freya both angry and helpless.

The bizarre scene drew disapproving looks from the Vanir gods, including Niord, Nasus, and Gulvig, who had hoped Frey and Freya would showcase their strength by defeating Rhodes.

Frey, in particular, was incensed to see his sister so close to their enemy.

Frey abandoned long-range attacks and charged at Rhodes.

"Release my sister, you bastard!"

As Frey abandoned his light magic for a close encounter, Freya felt somewhat relieved.

Rhodes looked at the approaching Frey, fueled by jealousy and resentment, and laughed.

"What? Are you angry that I danced with your sister?"

"Although I'd love for you to join in, I don't fancy dancing with men."

Rhodes quickly let go of Freya and stepped back.

Frey supported Freya's body.

"Are you all right, Freya?"

Freya shook her head.

"I'm fine, I'm not injured. This guy is really cunning. Let's go together."

"Good."

Rhodes looked at Frey and Freya, who were walking towards him side by side.

"Two against one isn't a good habit."

Rhodes greeted them with bare hands.

At that moment, Frey was full of light and divine power due to his anger, and his Victory Sword was aimed straight at Rhodes' chest, determined to pierce him.

Rhodes extended one of his index fingers and collided with Frey's Victory Sword.

Frey, seeing Rhodes using his fingers arrogantly to catch his Victory Sword, almost burst into laughter.

Frey could already envision Rhodes losing his fingers and head.

Frey grinned with bloodlust.

However, Rhodes remained still, waiting for Frey's Victory Sword to strike him.

Frey's Victory Sword touched Rhodes' finger.

But Frey soon noticed something was amiss.

His Victory Sword, in his hands, felt as if it had no impact at all...

Frey, closest to Rhodes, helplessly watched as Rhodes absorbed his Victory Sword through his fingertips.

Yes, absorption.

Frey's Victory Sword was made of divine light power, much like the energy emitted by the sun. To Rhodes, Frey's sword was akin to sunlight.

Rhodes was nearly impervious to gods with light attribute power.

Whether it was Balder, the God of Light of the Asgard, or Frey, the God of Light of Vanaheim, their light-based attacks posed no threat to Rhodes.

In the blink of an eye, Rhodes completely absorbed Frey's Victory Sword.

Frey felt his Victory Sword was gone, unable to sense it anymore.

"No, that's impossible! My Victory Sword?"

Frey's hand, which had held the sword, hung in the air, colliding with Rhodes' outstretched fingers.

Then, he punched Frey in the face.

Caught off guard, Frey was struck multiple times by Rhodes, and a cloud of dust enveloped them in the Vanir Temple.

Within the dust, it was Frey who found himself relentlessly pummeled by Rhodes.

Rhodes held Frey by the collar, and poor Frey endured countless blows to his face.

But then, Rhodes suddenly let go of Frey, transformed into him, and sent him flying.

Seeing Frey flying, Freya swiftly flew forward to catch Rhodes, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at the battered and bruised 'Frey'.

"Brother, are you okay?"

Rhodes, looking composed, leaned against Freya's stable chest.

"I'm fine; this guy is just too strong, Freya. I've imprisoned him with the Chain of Light. It's your turn to beat him."

Hearing this, Freya was relieved by her brother's strength and determined to seize this opportunity.

Freya rushed towards the smoke and dust, channeling her divine power into her right fist as she ran.

Meanwhile, Rhodes, taking on Frey's appearance, stood still, carefully comparing the figures of Hela and Freya.

"Well, this girl has a good figure, but she seems a bit bulkier and shorter than Hela. Hela has a slender figure. This girl is too robust. My Hela should exude a more feminine aura, not to mention the goddess vibe."

For some reason, Freya charged into the dust cloud.

Inside the dust cloud, Freya saw Frey, now transformed into Rhodes' likeness, trapped by the Chain of Light and unable to move. He also saw his sister raising her massive fist, aiming it at 'Frey's' face.

Freya hastily displayed a look of horror.

"No, Freya, it's me, I'm your brother."

But Freya couldn't recognize him at all and continued her ferocious attack.