The collision of two overwhelming forces caused everyone below—the Asgardian gods, residents, soldiers, and the Sky Hammer Venerables—to bend under the pressure. The weak-willed had already collapsed to their knees or fainted.
Leon's seemingly lazy eyes, in fact, shone with a light so dazzling it was hard to look at, and his powerful presence was as shocking as a landslide. The Serpent's heart sank.
"You mean to stop me?"
The Serpent was furious about this powerful, mysterious, and strange god's sudden appearance. However, he did not want to fight such an opponent at this critical moment. The healing ability the man had shown was incredible; in an instant, hundreds of thousands of severely injured soldiers, along with Thor, Loki, and the other gods, had been healed. He didn't dare to underestimate such a method.
And what about Hela?
He knew that Hela wasn't as strong as he was, but she was still a celestial-level being, and she shared a similar origin with Asgard. Asgard was immortal, and so was Hela. Yet, she had vanished without a trace, and this new opponent had appeared. From his perception, Leon didn't seem weak at all.
Was this opponent truly so strong? The Serpent was filled with doubt.
Leon said softly, "I think you should be worrying about someone else right now, Mr. Cul."
"What?"
Before the Serpent could react to Leon's slightly mocking words, he heard a familiar, hateful voice. "Cul, Odinson! You are trying to subvert Asgard and spread fear. You have tainted the blood of the Odinson family!"
The Serpent's eyes widened. He immediately turned his gaze toward Asgard and saw Odin, who was supposed to be lying unconscious, now standing tall and showing no signs of weakness.
"Odin, you—"
The Serpent was shocked, but Odin had already donned his armor and stretched out his hand, summoning the Eternal Spear, Gungnir, from Loki's grasp. High in the sky, the clear neigh of a horse sounded, and an eight-legged, white-furred divine steed appeared, running through the air.
Odin mounted the horse. His armor, intricately carved with muscles, exuded a sense of divinity, and his face was solemn. The eight-legged divine horse's muscular form was a testament to its power, and the heavy, metallic armor on its back and head added to its imposing presence. In this moment, Odin once again displayed the aura of a true All-Father.
The eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, became a blur of light. Thor and the other gods could barely see it before it was positioned in front of the Serpent, only a few hundred meters away from Leon.
In the sky, the three God-Kings stared at each other, and wisps of terrifying power radiated from them. The heavy, dark clouds above turned into a vortex, and thunder raged and flashed. The resulting light and shadow illuminated the figures of the three kings and the Saints floating in the sky.
This moment was like an epic painting frozen in time, capturing everyone's attention and engraving itself into their minds, never to be forgotten. Below, Thor, Loki, even the eight Sky Hammer Venerables led by the Goddess of Winter, Skadi, and the other gods couldn't participate in this level of battle. Everyone knew that the war's outcome now rested with the three celestial beings above them.
They all stopped fighting and stared, transfixed by the situation over Asgard.
"Thank you for your help. Asgard will always remember this," Odin said. He glanced at the Saints, such as Ophelia, who were guarding Leon, then expressed his gratitude. He was inwardly shocked. In just a few years, this outsider who had changed the sacred timeline had grown to this level and cultivated a group of equally exceptional warriors with limitless potential. Each of them was no less capable than Thor, Loki, or Tyr, and many were even better than Thor.
As an All-Father, Odin could see the truth about Ophelia and the others. Before this, they were just mortals. But these mortals had changed their fate and risen to such a level. This was incredible and incomprehensible for Odin. The more he couldn't understand, the more mysterious it felt. While Odin was jealous and curious, he was also grateful for his previous decision.
He and Leon had never met, yet they had engaged in a silent test and a deal. First, Odin had acquiesced to Thor and Loki going to Midgard for their investigation. After the first confrontation with Leon, Thor was sent to Midgard again to stop Skadi from releasing the Serpent. Thor fell into a state of depression because of the fear-inducing infection. The third time, Loki took Sif and Tyr to Madripoor to ask for Leon's help.
They were exchanging favors. Once the favors were given, a potential alliance was formed. This was all a strategic game between Leon and Odin. Thor, Loki, and the others were completely unaware, believing that Leon's actions were solely a result of their pleas for help. They even felt a sense of pride in their role.
In reality, the fundamental reason for Leon's appearance in Asgard, Odin's miraculous recovery, and Thor's renewed fight with Loki was all part of their silent understanding. As the Serpent's most hated enemy, no matter how old Odin was or how deep his sleep, he would never have been assassinated by fear-stricken Asgardian guards or stabbed in the heart with a fear-laced blade. The Serpent and Skadi believed this was possible because they were Asgardians and knew Odin's true condition.
This was a deliberate plan concocted by Odin and Leon. The Serpent was a pawn in their game. Without their silent cooperation, the situation would have been very different.
The Serpent, Cul, didn't know the reason. He simply believed that Leon's intervention had allowed Odin to dispel the fear curse and recover, and his anger was immeasurable. His scarlet eyes reflected the figures of the two men, and a fierce rage filled his heart.
A majestic power erupted from him, and a terrible wave of fear pressed down on the two of them. Unfortunately for him, the two people he was facing were more powerful and formidable than he was. One was the All-Father, Odin, whose power had grown over time and was now unfathomable. The other was a man who had devoured the blood of a goddess, accumulated an immense microcosm, wore the Aquarius Gold Cloth, and possessed a vast knowledge of the power of the main gods. It would have been difficult for the Serpent to face either of them alone, let alone both at once.
However, the Serpent, who had absorbed the endless fear of other realms, believed that even against Odin and Leon, his supreme power of fear made him invincible. Fear could destroy and overcome all things.
The clash of the three God-Kings' power wasn't just a two-on-one fight. Odin and Leon were also subtly testing each other, a silent struggle between kings.
"I will use your heads to bear witness to my return to the throne of the gods!" the Serpent laughed maniacally, flapping its wings and stirring up endless winds.
Ophelia, Salina, Lisa, Kaecilius, and the other Saints, who were guarding Leon, felt the immense power and were filled with a monstrous fighting spirit.
Leon tapped his fingers on the armrest. Ophelia and the others immediately understood. They transformed into streaks of light and descended to the ground, landing on the ruined buildings and observing the battle alongside Thor and the others.
"Wow, they look so cool," Volstagg said after a moment. He thought Ophelia and the others, with their cold elegance and noble temperament, looked more like gods than they did. In comparison, he was fat, his armor looked a bit rough, his face was covered in a beard, and he was holding an axe. The stylistic contrast was a complete blowout.
"Shut up, Tag!" Fandral was almost driven mad by his friend. It was enough for him to have such thoughts during such a tense, life-or-death moment.
"Okay," Volstagg said, realizing his comment was a bit stupid. He gave an awkward smile and fell silent.
In the sky, among the three confronting figures, Odin glanced at Leon, who gestured for him to proceed. A bolt of lightning flashed in Odin's eye. This farce, no matter what, had to end.
With a roar, his supreme divine power swept out. A terrifying thunder, thousands of times more powerful than Thor's, turned the sky into a sea of lightning, which rumbled toward the Serpent. The Serpent was not to be outdone, and its surging power of fear annihilated and tore apart the countless bolts of lightning. The sky seemed to be split in two: one side an endless sea of thunder, the other a dark void consumed by fear. Two completely opposite forces fought and collided.
Leon remained motionless in the center of the clash. Everything before him seemed like a gentle breeze. He propped his chin up, one hand on the armrest, and tapped rhythmically, watching the battle between the two All-Fathers intently. Below, Thor and the others could only perceive the raw power of the battle, but Ophelia, Salina, and the other Saints with their higher realms could see more subtle details.
Leon, understanding everything, absorbed and comprehended it all. His fighting style was different from the Asgardian gods, but the great way was unified, and everything had similarities and origins. The All-Father's use of power was not inferior to the Saints, and in some aspects, it might even be much better than a Seventh Sense Saint. Leon knew that the Saint Seiya's microcosm system had a unique advantage in this universe, but he would not underestimate anyone at his level. People who could reach this level, or even higher, must have their own unique wisdom. This wisdom was a culmination of knowledge, the use of power, and the mastery of universal rules. Absorbing the essence and discarding the dross was the best way to ascend the path of the gods.
The war between the two God-Kings was almost devastating. The instantaneous clash almost destroyed the entire continent of Asgard. Odin and the Serpent realized this. Neither of them wanted Asgard to be destroyed, so they silently agreed to take their battle to a different location.
They moved their fighting from Asgard to the distant reaches of space. Now unconcerned about collateral damage, the two of them unleashed their full divine power. The two brothers, the two former and current kings of the Odinson family, showed what true celestial power was. A slight movement from them could create a cosmic disaster comparable to a solar flare. A roar from them could shatter planets.
Planets were annihilated one by one, and the torrent of destruction swallowed everything, gradually spreading to the entire galaxy. The aura of destruction left everyone in Asgard in awe and shock. Thor and Loki pursed their lips, their expressions serious. Only now did they truly realize the greatness of their father, Odin, especially Thor. In recent years, he had thought that Odin's attitude toward the other Nine Realms was too gentle, even cowardly, and that he should have mercilessly killed the rebels instead of just releasing them. He had once believed that Odin was old and becoming incompetent.
But now, he knew he had been wrong. Odin's greatness far exceeded his imagination. Even from a distance, the mere aftershocks of the battle caused the entire continent of Asgard to shake violently, as if on the verge of destruction. He knew that if he had been at the center of the fight, he would have been torn to pieces and crushed into dust on the spot.
The same was true for Loki. He had secretly vowed to surpass Thor and Odin to become the most outstanding and legendary king. Now, it seemed that he was far from ready. Loki finally realized that wisdom was indeed what a God-King should have, but even more important was immense power. Only with sufficient power could Asgard be protected, and enemies be defeated and conquered in times of crisis.
How strong was he, then? Thor, Loki, and the other gods all looked at Leon, who remained motionless in the sky.
Leon, of course, noticed their stares but paid them no mind. As he carefully observed the distant battle, he was secretly amused by Hela, who was hiding and refusing to show herself in Asgard. This woman had previously sought revenge and wanted to kill Odin, but now, feeling the unmatched power he displayed, she must be trembling with fear. She was cruel and bloodthirsty, but in the face of absolute, invincible power, she was nothing more than a frightened kitten. At most, she was either angry or surprisingly well-behaved.
I guess this is how Odin sees Hela.
(End of Chapter)
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