Despite only causing Thor a mere scratch—comparable to a mosquito bite—that single wound spoke volumes.
Had his opponent been any ordinary divine soldier, that strike would have ended them.
To inflict even a superficial wound on a god of Thor's caliber using purely mortal physical strength and a mundane weapon was an extraordinary feat.
So then… what would happen if Xiang Yu wielded a true divine weapon?
And what if his power merged with a Valkyrie's sacred forging ritual—achieving the mythical "God-Human Unity" state?
The result could be an exponential surge in strength.
"Oh?"
In the chief gods' viewing box, Zeus arched his right brow, revealing a faint gleam in one eye—an eye that seemed almost hollow.
The mortal chosen by Brunhilde had piqued his interest.
To injure someone like Thor using only flesh and steel? Astonishing.
Calling that "god-slaying" was no exaggeration—lesser divine warriors stood no chance.
But… was that all?
It wasn't enough. Surely Brunhilde wasn't foolish enough to rely solely on this. There had to be more—some deeper card yet unrevealed.
Zeus smiled. He'd allow himself a flicker of anticipation. Perhaps Brunhilde would surprise them.
"Heh… so he nicked Lord Thor's skin."
"But that's it."
"He's dead next. Prepare to be turned into mincemeat!"
"Mincemeat!"
The ravens perched on Odin's shoulders cawed gleefully.
"Odin-uncle," came a voice—sharp and sinister. It was Loki, Norse trickster god. "You think Brunhilde still has a trump card?"
Based on his understanding of her, she wasn't one to act rashly.
She wouldn't have initiated Ragnarok if she lacked reason to believe humanity had a chance.
Yet everything Loki had seen so far felt insufficient to justify her confidence.
Hence the question.
Odin offered only a glance in reply, his expression unreadable.
"Boring. I'll head to the Greek box instead. They're far more entertaining."
With hands clasped behind his head, Loki lazily turned to leave—but paused.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the arena shifted.
Oh?
Thor's previously tranquil aura had stirred.
He was… taking his opponent seriously?
And Xiang Yu—now armed with a new spear—felt entirely different. His presence had intensified.
"Interesting…"
"Wait—what's this?"
On the field, Thor raised Mjolnir high, then bent backward as if preparing to fall, charging an earth-shattering blow.
"Is he impatient already? Ending the game in one strike?"
"For a mere human to die beneath this divine hammer… what an honor."
Gods who recognized the move murmured. The end was near.
There was no way any mortal could survive what was coming.
"Brunhilde-sister!!!"
Grey's scream rose, panic etched on her face.
"Don't worry… it'll be fine!"
Brunhilde said it, but even she wasn't fully certain.
A moment later, Thor swung Mjolnir down.
From the heavens, a pillar of divine lightning surged downward—blinding, apocalyptic.
The entire arena was bathed in searing light. Had it not been protected by enchantments, the human spectators would've been blinded instantly, some even scorched.
Yet—the light vanished as swiftly as it came.
The skies cleared, revealing bright sunshine. And the arena bore no damage whatsoever.
Had it been a mirage?
"Wha—?"
"That man!"
"This is… impossible!"
Those gods who understood what had occurred were stunned.
Xiang Yu had struck upward a split second before the lightning reached the ground—disrupting it with his spear.
The attack—Thor's divine punishment—had been scattered by a mortal.
Was this a joke?
Chapter 056: Evenly Matched? A Brawl Begins
The roaring coliseum fell silent.
Thor's devastating lightning, which should've obliterated Xiang Yu, had simply vanished.
"What happened?"
"Did Lord Thor call off the strike?"
"Was he bluffing?"
"Or did he deem it overkill—using a divine judgment against a mere mortal?"
Some gods couldn't grasp what had occurred. Not even their eyes had caught the crucial moment.
Hence the speculation.
But those who had seen it were shaken.
"You're kidding…"
"That mortal… dispelled Thor's divine lightning?!"
Existential doubt washed over them. Had they misunderstood the nature of reality?
The chief gods, once relaxed and dismissive, now held their silence.
"This just got interesting…"
Zeus grinned wide, feral.
Had Xiang Yu merely survived the strike unscathed, it would've been impressive.
But to destroy it? That was something else entirely.
His speed, precision, and power—it was beyond expectations.
Was it all because of the new weapon?
Was the secret hiding within the weapon itself?
Or was it synergy—man and weapon fused in purpose?
Zeus cast a curious glance toward Brunhilde.
"What… what just happened, Brunhilde-sister?" Grey whispered.
At the moment of impact, she'd shut her eyes. Not from the blinding light—but from fear.
She'd imagined Xiang Yu obliterated, not even a corpse left behind.
And with him, the morale of humanity would surely crumble.
But no such sound came.
Confused murmurs rose. Silence followed.
Opening her eyes, she saw nothing broken. Nothing scorched.
"Want to know? Then don't close your eyes."
Brunhilde teased, flashing a defiant smile at several gods staring her way.
She turned her attention back to Xiang Yu.
He had not only survived—he had shattered Thor's lightning.
This moment could rewrite history.
"Mm…"
Grey nodded, her curiosity piqued. She listened for scattered remarks from nearby spectators.
But before she could process anything, the two fighters moved again.
No—vanished.
Not literally. But they moved so fast the eye couldn't keep up.
In a blink, they met in the center of the arena.
BOOM!
The dull clash of metal rang out, forces compressed to their limits before exploding outward.
A shockwave rippled across the reinforced battlefield.
Were this a normal coliseum on Earth, the entire arena would've been pulverized.
"What an unbelievable sight…"
Heimdall, the gatekeeper and referee, gasped.
The speed of the two combatants nearly outpaced his reflexes.
In the blink of an eye, their weapons clashed countless times.
Each strike generated heat—not just from force, but from friction against the air.
The temperature around them soared.
"It's a perfect match… too close to call—"
Heimdall's voice faltered.
It wasn't even anymore.
One side was faltering.
Thor was struggling to keep up.
In the next instant, Xiang Yu launched an upward strike.
Mjolnir—Thor's legendary hammer—was sent flying.