SWWW Chapter 225: The Divine Agreement, Odin's Sword
Odin and Zeus.
One was the All-Father of Asgard, the other the king who established Mount Olympus.
One ruled the Nine Realms, Earth included, as his domain. The other was born from Earth itself, perhaps the strongest god native to its soil.
Two kings, each leading their own race of so-called gods, creating myths upon Earth—Norse and Greek.
To mankind, they were myths incarnate, totems of belief.
But because their philosophies differed—one seeking stability, the other desiring to break the balance—conflict was inevitable.
They questioned each other's legitimacy, calling the other false gods, outside gods, and fought endlessly for humanity's faith.
Until the great invasion of Apokolips. Only then did the two pantheons unite.
After that war ended—
Odin and Zeus, each on behalf of their kind, signed a special agreement.
The exact contents of that agreement, perhaps only those two ever knew.
But Prince—the fusion of Xi Nian and Diana—recalling all that had happened, had already guessed part of it.
"You placed the outcome of your feud on the shoulders of the next generation of gods," Prince said calmly.
"Correct."
From his throne, Odin's single eye bore into Prince, his voice heavy with authority. "Agreement? It was a wager.
"After fighting side by side, we no longer wished our tribes to battle endlessly. So we decided to pass the contest to the next generation—whichever pantheon's heirs proved stronger, that side would claim the final victory.
"The grudges of the old gods, the hope of the future—we entrusted them to the young."
"This…" Xi Nian muttered in surprise. "Wait—could that be why Zeus went so wild in Greek myth, fathering children left and right…?"
"What are you thinking?!"
Diana's voice scolded inside his mind, pulling him back from unhealthy thoughts.
"Over five thousand years ago, Olympus fell into decline, perhaps due to civil strife. I thought the agreement ended there," Odin said after a pause, his tone weary with memory. "I never expected Zeus's bloodline to endure until now."
"You defeated my son Thor, the next king of Asgard. That means your lineage has won—the wager spanning tens of thousands of years is yours."
Odin's aged but commanding voice echoed across the golden palace hall.
He reached to his waist, unbuckling the golden sword that hung there.
For a moment, his single eye lingered on the sheathed blade, reluctant, but then he raised his hand and tossed it forward.
Clang.
Prince caught it in one hand. The sword, sheathed in gold, was similar in size to the single-handed God of War Sword, exquisitely crafted, radiating holy golden brilliance.
Spider-sense told them the blade held immense power within—it was a true divine weapon.
Odin's voice grew tired as he waved his hand. "Take it. That sword was at my side since I became Asgard's king, through all my conquests of the Nine Realms. It will serve as the price of our lost wager."
"Then I won't be polite."
Prince fastened the golden blade at their waist. With the silver God of War Sword strapped across their back, a pair of gleaming arcs of gold and silver framed their form.
It felt fitting.
…
As Prince departed with twin swords, Odin's single eye narrowed. At last, with an unreadable emotion, he murmured:
"Zeus… our agreement has only just begun.
"If she can truly walk that path… cough, cough!"
Suddenly, Odin pressed a hand to his mouth, his frail body trembling violently. His snow-white hair and beard shook as racking coughs echoed through the vast golden hall. No one else was there to see.
After a long while, Odin gripped his golden staff tightly to keep himself upright.
It was not yet time for him to fall.
…
The Underworld.
Crack! Several golden chains split apart and snapped.
A wave of black mist spread outward, corrosive energy eating away at the remaining chains.
"Old man, you can't hold on much longer, can you?"
A woman cloaked in black laughed coldly. "I'll be waiting—for the day your time finally runs out."
…
Prince entered another chamber of Asgard's palace.
Just as they stepped inside—
"No need for treatment. I've already healed!"
A brash, booming voice rang out. A tall man with golden hair strode forward, clad in silver armor with a red cape across his shoulders. Though blood still streaked his body, he seemed unharmed, brushing aside the robed witches who had been tending him.
"You!"
Thor's expression darkened the moment he saw Prince enter. His body tensed like a coiled spring.
Not only had his cherished hammer been destroyed, but he had been struck down in an instant. Even now, dizziness lingered in his mind.
For Thor, who had always considered himself the mightiest warrior, it was unacceptable.
He could lose. But not like that. Not so easily, so helplessly.
"What, still want to fight? Go ahead," Prince said with a faint smile, carrying Diana's poise with Xi Nian's blunt youthfulness.
If you want war, then war it is.
And now they had another divine weapon to use.
Thor seethed. Never before had anyone pressed him down like this.
But then his eyes widened. He had noticed something.
At Prince's waist hung a golden sword—one he recognized instantly.
"How… how do you have that sword?" Thor's shock was greater than when Mjolnir had been destroyed.
Clearly, to him, that sword meant more than even his hammer.
"This? Odin gave it to me," Prince replied casually.
"Impossible! That sword is—!" Thor's face twisted in disbelief. He couldn't accept it.
He moved forward in anger—
"Thor."
A voice stopped him.
"Father!"
Thor turned. Behind Prince, another red-caped figure had entered.
It was Odin.
"Father, Mjolnir, and that sword…" Thor started quickly, wanting to explain.
"I know everything," Odin cut him off. He gestured at Prince. "Go on inside."
Without sparing the father and son another glance, Prince stepped past Thor and deeper into the palace.
Because more than anything else—
Xi Nian and Diana cared about Wanda's safety.
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