Chapter 253: The Eighth Round's Arena is—Helheim!
In a certain city of the human world, there was a group of very eye-catching figures.
"It looks almost no different from our world," said Irina, who was enjoying snacks and drinks at a coffee shop.
They had been wandering around this human world for a few days now, essentially just sightseeing.
All human spectators from the heavenly realm were sponsored for free to travel and enjoy the human world.
And their group had also received sponsorship.
After a few days of exploring, although it seemed no different, Irina still noticed the biggest distinction.
"In this human world, you can hardly find any special beings. It's completely an ordinary human world," Le Fay voiced the biggest difference Irina had noticed.
In their world, the human world was inhabited by all sorts of beings, including demons and others.
However, they generally disguised themselves as humans and wouldn't expose their identities unless necessary, especially with organizations like the church keeping an eye out to prevent chaos.
"Clearly, the gods of this world really don't care much for humans. Moreover, the gods here are quite up-to-date; the heavenly realm has all the entertainment and modern cities that humans have, so they aren't surprised by the human world's modernity," said the person who spoke these words, Rossweisse.
As for their world, the reason supernatural beings were active in the human world was that human faith was a vital force sustaining the myths.
Demons also needed to obtain certain things from humans to survive.
But in this world, they didn't need human faith at all.
"By the way, Rossweisse, you've bought way too much stuff," Irina lightly teased the Valkyrie.
Although the heavenly realm covered all their expenses in the human world, the things this Valkyrie bought were rather hard to describe.
If she had bought some expensive items, it would be one thing, but what did she purchase?
All sorts of discounted, almost at-cost bargain goods.
Just like a housewife meticulously managing the household budget, making every penny count or even stretching one penny into two.
So, was she already planning not to return, preparing to settle down long-term in this world with these purchases?
Suddenly, everyone froze as something they were carrying reacted.
"Is it about to start?"
"The eighth round between humans and gods?"
Irina and Le Fay's expressions turned gloomy.
Every match inevitably ended in death—either one died, or both perished. There was no possibility of both surviving.
So, the group activated the teleportation and returned to the massive rest area outside the arena.
Looking at the arena, which resembled a huge city, they could see dense crowds already pouring in.
"It feels like there are even more people than in the last match."
Irina, who had already entered the arena, spoke with uncertainty.
"It's not just a feeling—there really are more of them. I'd estimate twice as many!"
Rossweisse confirmed this with certainty, and it was clear the arena had been expanded again.
Her gaze immediately shifted to one corner, where she saw a considerable number of Buddhas, giving the impression that all the deities from Mount Sumeru had been mobilized.
From this perspective, the representative of the God Faction for this match must be that individual—another pillar of this world's top-tier combat strength.
In the blink of an eye, as the host's tone shifted, the expressions of all humans and gods changed slightly.
It was finally time for the introduction to the eighth round of battle.
"Since the final battle between humanity and the gods, Ragnarök, began, seven matches have passed. As we approach the eighth round, there aren't many matches left. Yet, up to this point, the God Faction has not won a single match."
As the host Heimdall's words fell, the atmosphere among the God Faction spectators grew unusually tense.
"Not even one match, you see."
Heimdall emphasized again, giving off a somewhat sarcastic vibe.
As a result, some of the gods glared at him as if they wanted to devour him.
"So, if the God Faction loses this next match, Ragnarök will come to an end—with the defeat of the gods."
"Which side are you on, Heimdall?"
"Bastard, just you wait until this is over!"
"Have you forgotten your allegiance?"
Some divine faction spectators couldn't hold back their curses, so Heimdall endured their murderous glares and continued provoking them with inflammatory commentary.
It wasn't that he didn't side with the gods—rather, he was fully committed to his role as the announcer, performing his duties to the utmost.
To him, this was the greatest honor!
"Hm? Still hasn't appeared?"
"What hasn't appeared, Miss Rossweisse?"
Le Fay asked in confusion.
"The chief god of Norse mythology—Odin."
The VIP seat reserved for this chief god remained empty.
Though many other Norse gods sat nearby, their moods seemed equally somber.
"About that... Lord Odin won't be appearing in the spectator stands anymore."
The person who answered left everyone stunned, for the speaker was this world's Valkyrie—Göll.
"The news will probably be announced soon anyway... Lord Odin has passed away~"
Göll continued with a sigh, her eyes somewhat dazed.
After all, Odin was the chief god of their pantheon.
"Huh?"
"D-dead?"
"So suddenly..."
Yet it didn't feel entirely unexpected. During previous matches, Odin had repeatedly coughed up blood while watching, with medical staff urgently attending to him.
He should have remained in the gods' ICU, where better life-support equipment was available, but he stubbornly insisted on attending the matches in person. Thus, his sudden deterioration and death came as no surprise.
"Then, everyone, let us proceed to the arena for the eighth round!!!"
As Heimdall's declaration echoed, thick mist abruptly manifested.
Within moments, it engulfed the entire coliseum.
"What's this? The fog's so dense," Irina muttered.
Suddenly, she sensed something amiss—the surroundings had fallen completely silent.
"Le Fay?"
No response.
She called out to others too, but received no replies, making her increasingly anxious.
When the thick fog dissipated, the sight that greeted her eyes heightened Irina's panic. They were no longer in the coliseum, but in a sinister-looking place that felt eerily unsettling.
Crack!
"Waaah!"
"Waaah!"
Two screams erupted—one naturally from Irina, the other from the youngest of the thirteen Valkyrie sisters in this world, Göll.
Göll had accidentally stepped on a twig, the sound startling Irina into screaming, and Göll in turn screamed from being startled by Irina's scream.
"You scared me!"
"You scared me too!"
"But where is this, Miss Göll?"
"Where? I don't know either...!"
Her voice cut off abruptly as Göll's eyes widened in recognition.
This was—Helheim!