The sky roared with fury. Bjorn stood at the center of the clearing, raising his hammer with both hands as a bluish aura enveloped his body. The storm he had summoned intensified, and lightning danced between the dark clouds.
Alex, panting and holding his spear high, watched in awe as Bjorn revealed a power he had kept hidden until now.
"You weren't fighting seriously all this time?" Alex asked, a mix of disbelief and excitement in his voice.
Bjorn gave him a confident smile.
"Of course not, kid. You're good—really good for someone just starting out. But up to now, I was just warming up. Now it's time to show you why I'm the avatar of Thor."
Bjorn struck the ground with his hammer, and a bolt of lightning shot toward Alex. He jumped just in time, dodging the blast that shattered the terrain.
"Get ready, Alex!" Bjorn shouted as he raised his hammer to the sky.
The storm seemed to respond instantly. Multiple bolts of lightning fell from the clouds, converging on his weapon and transforming it into a hammer wrapped in blinding electrical energy. With a roar, Bjorn hurled the hammer at Alex.
Alex barely had time to react. Instinctively, he raised his spear, and a shield of wind materialized around him, blocking part of the energy. But the lightning's impact was overwhelming.
The shield began to crack, the currents of wind breaking apart, and the explosion sent him flying several meters back. He hit the ground hard, his body covered in burns and cuts, until he finally lay still.
Bjorn lowered his hammer, breathing heavily. The storm began to fade, leaving the clearing in absolute silence.
"You've got talent, kid. But you've still got a long way to go."
Alex slowly opened his eyes, the pain in his body reminding him of the battle's intensity. The first thing he noticed was the rocky ceiling of a cave, lit by the flickering light of a campfire.
He sat up with difficulty, feeling the roughness of an improvised bed made of blankets and leaves. Looking around, he saw Bjorn sitting by the fire. He was no longer wearing armor, now dressed in simple clothes, his body covered in scars—some deep, others barely visible—witnesses to his life as Thor's avatar.
"What… what happened?" Alex asked, his voice hoarse.
Bjorn didn't turn immediately. He was focused, adding wood to the fire.
"You passed out. I thought you'd broken something, but turns out your body's tougher than it looks."
Alex tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his ribs made him stop.
"Why didn't you kill me?"
Bjorn let out a low laugh.
"Kill you? Come on, kid, this isn't a fight to the death. We're avatars—warriors who represent the gods. I have no intention of finishing off someone with so much potential. Besides…" Bjorn finally turned to Alex, giving him a warm smile. "I won't deny it—I had a great time fighting you."
Alex frowned, but couldn't help feeling relieved.
"I guess I should thank you."
Bjorn shook his head.
"Thank me when you can stand your ground without passing out at the end. But I'll admit it—you did something few have managed to do: you forced me to use a fragment of Thor's true power."
Alex looked surprised.
"A fragment?"
Bjorn pointed to his hammer, resting beside him.
"Yeah. What you saw in our fight wasn't even a tenth of what this hammer can do. But it was enough to show you that you should never underestimate your opponents—or yourself."
Alex looked more closely at Bjorn, noticing the scars covering his arms and torso.
"How did you get those scars?"
Bjorn smiled with melancholy.
"Being an avatar isn't just about having power, kid. It's a burden we carry. Every scar is a reminder that even with a god's power, we're still human. We make mistakes, we fight, and sometimes we lose. But we always move forward."
The words resonated within Alex. For the first time, he understood that being chosen by Quetzalcoatl wasn't just a privilege—it was a responsibility he didn't yet fully grasp.
Bjorn stood, picking up his hammer.
"Get some rest, Alex. We're not far from the village. Once you've recovered, we can continue our journey."
Alex nodded, lying back down. As he watched the fire, a new determination began to form inside him.
"No matter how long it takes, Bjorn. Next time we fight, I won't be the one who falls first."
Bjorn laughed heartily.
"That's what I want to see, kid. That's what I want to see."
End of Chapter 5