{Chapter: 345 Odin's Conspiracy}
In the Grand Arena of Asgard
The sky above shimmered like molten gold as William stood alone at the center of the colossal fighting arena. The stands around him roared with the presence of thousands upon thousands of Asgardian warriors, their armor gleaming under the divine sunlight, eyes burning with righteous fury. Their weapons glinted like stars, and their boots pounded in unison on the marble floor, a heartbeat of war.
Far above in the royal balcony, Odin sat with a cold and calculating gaze, watching intently from behind the safety of a shimmering energy barrier that surrounded the arena. Thor stood beside him, silent and troubled, his fists clenched at his sides. Lady Sif stood a few steps back, arms crossed, her lips tight, her eyes unreadable—except to William, who always saw the truth in her silence.
Jane clutched the balcony's edge, her eyes fixated on the man below. "Why does it always have to be like this?" she murmured. "He doesn't need to fight the world alone."
Down in the arena, William waved up at the crowd with a cheeky grin. "Come on, all of you," he called lazily, as though inviting them to a dance. His voice echoed through the coliseum, smooth and defiant.
A warrior near the front bellowed, "William, stop mocking us! For Lady Sif's honor, we will bring you to your knees!"
William smirked, scratching his ear with disinterest. "I am mocking you. Want to make something of it?"
"You arrogant bastard!" another warrior shouted. "You think we didn't prepare for the day you returned after disgracing Asgard and fleeing?"
William's smile widened. "Prepared, huh? That's cute. And here I thought you all forgot about little ol' me."
A cry rose from the ranks. "Attack! Let this traitor taste the fury of Asgard!"
A tide of warriors surged forward, but then came a unison cry that shook the heavens.
"Asgardian Warriors — MERGE!"
Golden light erupted from the ranks like a chain reaction of fire. Each warrior's body flared with divine energy, their forms glowing brighter, pulsing with life and power. Their very essences melted into one another, becoming streams of light that twisted and converged above the arena. From that glorious storm, a massive golden sphere formed in the sky, blazing like a second sun.
William's grin faded. His eyes narrowed with rare seriousness. "Now that's new."
Back in the balcony, Thor's jaw tensed. "They pulled it off... When I left for Midgard, this level of fusion was still theory."
"It was incomplete then," Fandral said with awe. "But now—look at that. All our warriors' strength fused into one force. Their spirits. Their pride. Everything."
Odin's voice was heavy. "After William's rebellion... we realized our failure. No single warrior could match his destruction. So we stopped relying on individuals. We began to unite. This is our first full fusion. And perhaps, our only hope."
Jane spun around to face him, rage burning in her eyes. "So this is what it's all about. You're using William as a test subject."
"We seek peace in the universe," Odin said.
"No," Jane snapped. "You seek control. You fear him. You hate what you can't bend to your will. You pretended to approve his marriage to Sif, then rallied your forces against him. It was a setup from the start."
Odin didn't respond.
"William might be a rogue. He might've made mistakes. But at least he doesn't hide who he is behind sanctimonious words. Not like you." Her voice cracked. "And I love him for that."
Below, William slowly rolled his shoulders as the enormous glowing titan—formed of countless fused Asgardian warriors—descended into the arena. Its body was composed of raw divine energy, shaped like a towering knight with two eyes burning behind its helmet.
Sif leaned over the railing. Her voice was cold, almost mechanical. "You wanted this attention, William. Let's see if you can survive it."
"Still rooting for me deep down, aren't you?" William called back with a smirk, though a flicker.
Sif's face twitched. "Don't flatter yourself. I hate you for what you did... for making me feel—" She stopped herself, her voice trembling. "Just die, so there is one less monster in the world."
William looked up at her, softer this time. "I never wanted to be your enemy, Sif. You were always... more than just a sword on the battlefield."
Despite not hearing what others said, they continue to converse as if they comprehended the other person's statements.
She turned away sharply.
"In truth," Odin said slowly, his voice echoing with divine gravitas across the chamber, "William is the greatest hypocrite of them all. The man cloaks selfish ambition in the language of freedom. He is not a hero. He is a threat cloaked in charm."
Jane clenched her fists, stepping forward with unflinching resolve. "I don't care," she said, her voice trembling with fury and devotion. "Call him what you want, but he's the man I chose. I saw the truth in him—beyond the power, beyond the danger. You say I'm just a mortal? Then hear this, Odin: this mortal woman would stand against gods for the man she loves."
Odin's eye narrowed as he stepped toward her, the light from the Bifrost reflecting in his golden armor. "You are not merely unqualified to judge me—you are blind. Your love for William clouds your mind. He stands as the greatest enemy of your own people. You side with chaos over order. For that, you have my pity."
"No," Jane whispered, her eyes locked on the distant figure inside the energy barrier. "You don't get to pity me. You set a trap and call it justice. But it's cowardice. You fear him. And I swear, Odin, for what you've done—Asgard will burn."
Thor turned to his father, his face solemn. "So you knew. All this time. You orchestrated every piece of this?" There was no anger in his voice—only resignation.
"I did," Odin answered without shame. "When William brought destruction to Asgard, I saw clearly what he was. This fight, this stage—this is not revenge. It is containment. It is order restored."
"The energy barrier," Fandral said, nodding toward the massive golden dome shimmering over the arena. "It's formed from the roots of Yggdrasil. Even the gods could not breach that easily."
Odin inclined his head. "William cannot escape. No power he possesses can shatter it. The Tree of Life itself will bind him."
Jane's lip quivered. "You really built a prison for him. Spent who knows how long planning this betrayal. And all while pretending you had accepted his proposal to Sif."
Volstagg folded his arms, letting out a heavy breath. "To be fair, we were all fooled. The All-Father kept his cards close."
Fandral chuckled nervously. "Yes, well, deception is one of his more terrifying talents."
"And now," Volstagg added with a grin, "Sif doesn't have to marry that lunatic."
"Yes," Thor said, giving Sif a warm smile, "You're free now. It's for the best."
But Sif didn't smile back.
She stared into the arena, her usually steady hands trembling by her sides. "Yes," she said hollowly. "Free." Her lips curved upward, but it was a forced, bitter thing. "The All-Father really deceived us all so well."
Odin laughed—a cold, victorious sound. "To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your own. From the moment William asked for your hand, Sif, I began setting the pieces in motion. I knew he would try to force your acceptance. So I let it happen. I let him believe he was winning. And now, he faces the fury of all Asgard."
Sif's voice was tight, cold, but her eyes shimmered with something else—something unspoken. "You used me. You used all of us. Even him."
"His crimes against Asgard and Earth demand punishment," Odin declared. "And today, punishment comes."
The crowds thundered with applause. Cries of "Long live the All-Father!" and "For Asgard!" rang across the skies.
In the stands, Sif's breathing quickened. Her eyes widened with a complex storm of emotions—hatred, yes, but also admiration. Regret. Memory.
'You arrogant bastard,' she thought. Why do you always survive?
"Why?" she whispered, fists clenched. "Why do you keep standing?"
A different kind of love than Jane's tender warmth. Sif's love had been forged in fire and war, in shared blades and battlefield scars. A love unspoken, buried under duty and pride.
And he threw it away when he asked her to marry him—not out of love, but for political gain.
Or at least, that's what she told herself.
Jane frowned deeply and shouted at the fighting field. But Jane shoved past Thor and shouted toward the arena again, "William! It's a trap! Don't trust them! They planned it all!"
"Hahaha, haha..." Everyone laughed, "Fool, you can't hear the outside sound inside the barrier."
"Even if William heard it, it would be useless, girl, just don't worry about it." Volstagg smiled.
Odin looked at Jane, "Guards, take her down."
"She's done nothing wrong—"
"She's a liability," Odin snapped.
"Father, she helped me on Earth, she was just deceived by William, she did nothing wrong." Thor said immediately.
Odin nodded, "Guards, retreat, let her stay here and watch how William was defeated."
Jane laughed, "Haha, you will definitely regret it, you will definitely." ..
Her voice was muffled by the barrier.
Inside the dome, William paused, glancing toward her. He couldn't hear her words—but he felt them.