Chapter 64: Godslayer
Just as Ares, the God of War, lifted his goblet to toast Thor's apparent victory, a chill swept over him—an unseen pressure, crushing and suffocating.
It was divine in origin.
His gaze snapped toward Zeus.
Ares flinched.
The king of Olympus wore a fearsome expression—dark and foreboding, like lightning held just behind clenched teeth. A fury not yet unleashed, but crackling beneath the surface.
What's wrong?
Had it been centuries since Zeus looked like this?
Ares's pupils narrowed. He spotted Hermes beside Zeus, his face clouded with unease.
Turning toward the other pantheons, Ares sought answers.
And then—
He saw Odin.
The Norse Allfather radiated the aura of annihilation. His fury was colder, deeper—like a mountain moments before collapse.
What is happening?
Ares noticed the shifts around him. Gods who moments ago cheered now bore thunderous expressions. Their joy had curdled into dread.
But Thor had won… hadn't he? Why this storm?
He looked back to Heimdall, the announcer—once blazing with excitement, now mute and grim.
And then—
Snap.
Ares crushed his goblet in his hand.
The truth hit him like a hammer blow.
The gods hadn't won.
They had lost.
"No… this can't be…"
He staggered to his feet, voice trembling.
Other gods fell into similar confusion. Jubilation bled into silence. Something wasn't right.
On the human side, Gray, who had collapsed in despair, looked up. The air had shifted. The gods radiated not triumph—but dread.
Especially the Norse pantheon—
"Ahh!"
She screamed instinctively as Odin's gaze swept past her.
Just one glance—and it felt like her soul was being peeled away.
What had enraged Odin to this degree?
She turned toward Brynhildr.
Her sister—once tense—now smiled.
Gray followed her gaze. Brynhildr had noticed Odin staring.
And she smiled brighter.
Odin darkened further, his fury surging.
Gray felt her chest tighten, her lungs refusing to breathe.
That gaze could kill.
"Gray!"
Brynhildr's voice rang out.
"Stand. It's time to cheer—for our victory!"
"What?"
Gray stared, wide-eyed.
Had Brynhildr lost her mind? Was she claiming victory?
But Xiang Yu—the human champion—could barely stand. His body trembled with effort. It looked as if he'd fall any moment.
Thor, on the other hand—
"AH!"
Gray gasped.
A red line had appeared around Thor's throat—a fine, precise crimson ring.
A breath later—
Blood exploded from his neck.
Thor's head severed cleanly from his body.
"He… lost?"
Gray whispered, unable to accept it.
"Obviously. Dead men don't win matches," Brynhildr replied.
Thor's body cracked apart like porcelain, then dissolved into radiant motes, vanishing into the wind.
The gods sat frozen in disbelief.
The humans?
"We won?"
"He disappeared! Of course we won!"
"The first round—humans defeated the gods?"
"We won! Humanity won!"
Cheers erupted like a divine storm, shaking the heavens.
What happened in that final instant?
How did Xiang Yu—broken and unarmed—strike a fatal blow?
Heimdall, pale-faced and solemn, began to narrate.
The replay unfolded on the giant screen.
Thor had launched his axe-hammer at Xiang Yu's torso, intending to cleave him in two.
Xiang Yu braced himself. First with two arms—then summoned his remaining two. All four hands gripping swords in a desperate cross-block.
But the blades couldn't hold.
They shattered under the hammer's might.
Still—those fragments had bought him a moment.
He wasn't split cleanly. His chest tore open, but he remained standing.
So why did Thor die?
As the replay slowed further—one moment became clear.
As his swords shattered, the shards exploded through the air.
One long fragment remained whole.
And in the middle of chaos—
Xiang Yu lunged forward and bit down on that shard.
As he and Thor passed one another in the clash—
That jagged sword fragment flashed across Thor's throat.
Unseen by gods.
Unseen by mortals.
One final move.
One final breath.
The moment of godslaying.
Humanity had killed a god.
Chapter 65: Stirring Shadows
The gods—once smug, cruel, taunting—now tasted the bile of shame.
Mocking humans had been easy.
Enduring defeat… was not.
"This is humanity's victory!"
"What happened to all that pride?"
"You called us insects. Couldn't even swat a fly!"
Now, they understood the sting of humiliation. The depth of what humans had suffered before.
Some gods bowed their heads.
In shame? In mourning? No one could tell.
"This wasn't a fair fight!"
"What even was that thing? That mechanical body—was that even human?"
"This whole match is rigged!"
A few gods—still arrogant—lashed out.
Crying injustice. Accusing foul play.
"Enough!"
"Shut your mouth."
"Don't make us more of a disgrace."
Other gods stepped in, silencing their brethren.
And then—
One particularly vocal god froze.
He turned—and saw him.
Odin.
Just a glimpse—and he was undone.
His pupils lost focus. His body collapsed, drained of all strength.
"Heimdall."
A voice rose, cold and ancient.
Like hell's breath.
Odin had spoken.
"Announce it."
Heimdall, shivering, obeyed.
"In the battle between gods and mankind…"
"Round One concludes."
"Victory goes to the human side."
"Champion: Xiang Yu of Western Chu!"
"This… could be a problem," Shiva muttered.
He twisted his neck, bones popping.
His blood was boiling. His war spirit surged.
He must speak to Zeus.
No matter what—it was his turn next.
"Thor lost. What now, Uncle Odin?"
Loki asked, knowing full well he'd crossed a line.
He dodged away immediately, preparing for attack.
But nothing came.
Still—what Odin didn't do was worse than anything he might have.
The aura released in that instant…
Loki felt death grasping at his throat.
He laughed nervously—and vanished.
No point tempting fate with Odin's wrath.
Next stop?
The Greek pantheon.
Time to tease Ares.
But first—
He had a detour.
"Sister… is it true—"
Gray's voice caught.
Before her stood the Trickster God—Loki.
A presence so unsettling it locked her throat.
Brynhildr's face turned to ice.
"Congratulations, Brynhildr."
"Your side won the opening round."
He sounded genuine. Friendly.
But to her ears, the tone dripped venom.
"You're furious, aren't you?"
"No need to hide it behind that smile," Brynhildr replied, her voice dry as ash.
Loki's expression twitched—
Then flipped back to its usual grin.
"Guess who's absolutely enraged right now?"
"Odin. You know… Thor was his son."
Brynhildr froze.
Odin was the one god she feared above all others.
Truthfully, she hadn't expected to win.
Her goal was simple: prove gods could be killed.
She hadn't meant to slay one. Not like this. Not Thor.
But victory had come.
And with it—a storm.
"One win won't delay humanity's end."
"It might even speed it up, Brynhildr~"
With a whisper of laughter—
Loki vanished.
Gray stared at her sister.
"Sister…"