This showed just how popular Hulk and Sakaar were in the arena. With such thunderous cheers, even American superstars never received this kind of treatment. Especially striking was the necklace of animal teeth hanging around Hulk's neck, a clear symbol of dignity.
After all, Grandmaster, the ruler of Sakaar, wore the same animal-tooth necklace himself.
Perhaps it was because Hulk was too famous in the arena, bringing enormous profits to Grandmaster. Coupled with his overwhelming strength and seemingly undefeated record, the animal teeth had likely become a symbol of power—equivalent to a championship trophy or a boxing title belt. They represented status, honor, and invincibility.
Also, for some reason, when Hulk appeared, Loki's body visibly trembled on the viewing platform. It was probably the aftereffects of being bullied by Hulk for so long. If Grandmaster weren't present, Loki would likely leave the planet without hesitation.
"Is this Grandmaster's own son?"
"Hulk, Hulk—"
"When did you become so depraved?"
Watching Hulk strike poses in the arena, Blaine shook his head helplessly.
This big guy had nothing fancy—just brute strength, but that alone was enough. No wonder he could shine in this arena and display his talents so freely.
Hulk was still holding his hammer, roaring at the audience as if responding to their cheers, showing off like an ordinary performer.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. Hulk's current success depended on Grandmaster's discovery and indulgence. Wasn't that enough?
A little carelessness on Earth could destroy the world, but here Hulk could smash things casually and vent himself however he liked. Wasn't this the best of all worlds—a perfect win-win?
"But…"
"This guy seems to have changed?"
For some reason, Blaine felt something was off the moment he saw Hulk.
How should he put it? Hulk seemed more obedient than before, and his mood appeared far less irritable than when he transformed into the green titan. It was as if Banner had gained some control over him.
"Is this a sign of Banner beginning to merge with Hulk?"
Just as Blaine finished thinking this, Grandmaster's figure appeared above the arena once more.
"Ladies and gentlemen—"
"Let's have a little fun."
"Watch his fingers. He discharges electricity."
"All right, no more talk."
"Enjoy one of the greatest battles Sakaar has ever seen."
…
The projection flickered, and Grandmaster vanished again.
Blaine followed the crowd's gaze toward another passage.
The door opened, and someone slowly walked out. Could it be Thor?
However, his originally thick, golden hair was gone—clearly cut short by Grandmaster. It was hard to imagine what Thor, who had always loved his long hair, had looked like when it was chopped off.
Thor's outfit was also strange. The peculiar helmet matched the boots on his feet. He held a shield in one hand and a large sword in the other, clearly weapons that had been forcibly assigned to him for this fight.
When Blaine spotted Thor, Thor also noticed Blaine in the crowd. After all, Blaine was too distinctive—not even Grandmaster could miss him, let alone someone who had fought alongside him.
"Hey, hey!"
"Mr. Hunter, Mr. Hunter!"
"It's me, it's me—Thor, hey!"
Thor hadn't expected to meet so many familiar faces on such a remote alien planet.
Blaine didn't respond verbally, only giving a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Then Thor saw Hulk, and his excitement skyrocketed.
"Oh shit—oh my God, oh my God!"
"Hey, hey, we know each other!"
"He's my good comrade-in-arms!"
Thor excitedly waved the large sword in his hand and shouted toward Grandmaster above.
Earlier, while imprisoned, his "cellmate" had described his opponent as terrifying—undefeated on Sakaar and brutally savage, making Hulk sound like a living nightmare.
At that moment, Thor had been terrified, convinced this would be the last battle of his life, as if the arena were an execution ground. But seeing Blaine had already eased his fears.
After all, in Thor's mind, Mr. Hunter—someone who had fought beside him—wouldn't just stand by and watch him die.
And then, when he realized his opponent was Hulk, Thor was completely relieved. He never imagined that the monstrous existence they described was actually Hulk. The joy of realizing he wouldn't die today was impossible to hide.
As for that, Blaine could only think: you're celebrating a bit too early—this is practically gloating.
"Hey, brother!"
"Where have you been?"
"Everyone thought you were dead."
"A lot has happened since we last met."
"I don't even have my hammer anymore."
"It feels like yesterday—I remember it so clearly."
"Loki, Loki—Loki's still alive, can you believe it? Hahahaha!"
"He's up there!"
"Hey, Loki, look who this is! Remember him?"
"Oh, Banner—me, me, me."
"Never thought I'd say this, but…"
"I'm really happy to see you."
Thor was clearly overwhelmed by seeing so many old friends at once, speaking in a rambling, incoherent rush.
Not only did Blaine not expect Thor to say all this—even Thor himself probably didn't. The always cool and majestic God of Thunder had such a chatterbox side. At this moment, Thor seemed possessed by a miniature Spider-Man, talking nonstop.
Oh, right—regardless of what Thor was saying, Blaine also noticed something important.
Thor wasn't holding his hammer.
One had to know that Thor with Mjolnir and Thor without it were two entirely different people. Without the hammer, it was like pulling out a tiger's fangs.
Thinking carefully, Thor's hammer must have been destroyed. Otherwise, there was no way Grandmaster could have controlled him so easily and forced him into this battle.
With that thought, a familiar sequence of events surfaced in Blaine's mind.
Thor returned to Asgard and found his father, Odin, singing and dancing with a group of maids, issuing him orders as usual.
It took Thor some time to realize something was wrong—and he guessed correctly. The one impersonating his father had been Loki, who had exiled the real Odin to Earth.
So Thor took Loki to find Odin. But Odin seemed unwilling to return to Asgard. After exchanging only a few words, Odin suddenly said that his time was up, that the end was coming, and that Asgard would no longer be ruled by him but by Thor. He warned that Thor's sister was returning—and then turned into a point of light and vanished.
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