Death Goddess Hela's expression shifted. She seemed about to stop it, but an overwhelming force enveloped her, swallowing her in an instant and erasing her from where she stood.
"Didn't expect that troublesome one to show up. Odin, you really left me a mess."
There wasn't a trace of gloating on Loki's face—only a tight frown. After thinking for a moment, he had to decide. "Looks like… I'll need to ask the lord for help. I don't want to suddenly die in that woman's hands."
On Sakaar.
The entire gladiator circuit was boiling over. The crowd howled with excitement; gladiators whooped and shrieked.
The most eye-catching challenge in history: the strongest gladiator ever, the bald Saitama, versus the planet's ruler, the Grandmaster!
And the other side had agreed!
"Dear citizens, place your bets! You can't miss a match like this."
The Grandmaster still didn't forget to hawk his fight-betting to the audience. For someone with a lifespan as long as "five-four-three" years, this was one of his rare hobbies.
Countless spectators, feverish and wild, began to bet. The funny part? Almost everyone bet on the Grandmaster. Nearly no one put money on Saitama—well, there was one person who placed a hundred bets.
"Bro, not bad—someone wagered on you."
Thor offered Saitama a "kind" bit of encouragement. The situation did look a little dangerous.
Though the one who bet… seemed to be Valkyrie, the very woman who had sold them into this mess.
"Don't look at me like that. I actually bet both sides. It's just that Baldy's odds are sky-high. If he wins, I'm rich overnight."
Valkyrie rolled her eyes at Thor's friendly look.
Thor: "…"
Damn!
I misjudged you!
"Grandmaster! Grandmaster! Grandmaster!"
"Grandmaster! Grandmaster! Grandmaster!"
"Grandmaster! Grandmaster! Grandmaster!"
A tidal roar rolled through the arena. Every spectator, fanatical, backed the Grandmaster. This was the true invincible monarch—just seeing him was worth the ticket price, never mind the chance to win bets.
Of course, the Grandmaster's odds were low. Only those who bet huge could earn anything. His strength was beyond doubt—backing him was a sure profit.
"Pity. Your friend is probably going to die on the spot. My condolences."
Valkyrie lounged with panache and raised a bottle in a toast.
Thor: "…"
This woman… truly a piece of work. A drunk, through and through!
"Heh heh, Saitama—after this fight, we're leaving Sakaar, right? But we don't really have a suitable ship."
Ignoring the fools around them, Thor grinned obsequiously at Saitama, wearing the expression of a teammate who was absolutely about to cause trouble.
"Should be. As for a ship, we'll just borrow one from him."
Saitama pointed seriously at the Grandmaster, who stood not far away with arms spread in a flamboyant pose.
"Borrow?"
Thor's mouth twitched, then he couldn't help breaking into a broad smile. "Borrowing is good—very good!"
The once-arrogant, domineering Thor of Asgard was living more and more like an overexcited husky these days—bark big, bite small.
"Right, Saitama, since we're leaving anyway… how about I take the first swing at him?"
Thor waggled his brows.
He still remembered this pervert of a Grandmaster strutting in front of him. This time, Thor the Thunderer would smash him flat!
And if he couldn't… well, Saitama was right behind him to save the day. Cozy.
"You?"
Saitama glanced curiously at Thor, thought it over, then nodded. "Don't break him."
Don't break him?
Those words made Thor's confident smile widen even more. Did Saitama think Thor might break the guy? Ah, what can you do—I'm Thor, after all.
A god of Asgard. For the glory of the North—arooooooo—!
"Dear citizens, rest easy. I will now demonstrate what is called—"
The Grandmaster basked in the spotlight and the crowd's fevered gazes, arms spread as he guided the arena's mood.
Boom.
He didn't finish the sentence.
He got blasted.
A bolt of lightning shot across, smashing the Grandmaster and sending him flying.
Thor, hammer in hand, stood where the Grandmaster had been. He flashed a smug smile and waved at the people. "Hi, everyone. I'm Thor, the Thunder God of Asgard. Oh, and he spent ten million to buy me."
He even bared a pristine grin.
Comfort!
Flexing and smacking someone—with Saitama backing you up—this was freaking exhilarating!
The sudden move stunned the arena into silence. Every eyeball nearly popped out, locked on Thor, mouths so wide open you could stuff two eggs inside.
Valkyrie, mid-swig, froze and stared, dumbstruck.
"Damn you—how dare you attack me?"
From a shattered wall in the distance, the Grandmaster struggled out. He motioned for his guards—who were about to rush in—to stand down.
For rebels like this, he would personally deliver punishment.
"Heh, feels good getting hammered, doesn't it? Oh, and I forgot to mention—I'm not shackled by your little toy anymore."
Thor tapped his neck. Right before the scuffle, he'd had Saitama remove it.
That guy… pinched the chip to powder with two fingers. Monster.
The Grandmaster's face darkened with anger.
"Have another hammer."
Laughing heartily, Thor leapt high, bringing the heavy hammer down on the Grandmaster's head.
Kra-ka-BOOM!
Even without Mjolnir, Thor unleashed plenty of divine might.
Blinding lightning lit the entire arena.
Except—
Kra-ka-BOOM—
The blue-white bolt struck the Grandmaster's head—and didn't do what Thor expected. A transparent barrier shimmered into being, and all the lightning bounced back!
One of the Grandmaster's energies: recombination and conversion!
A thick arc slammed into Thor, the pride of the North, and blasted him away. The air filled with the scent of barbecued meat.
"Damn! A monster, huh?"
Thor gritted his teeth against the pain. He had no time to think—the Grandmaster was already on him, wielding the scepter that had once freed Thor's brother. A mere touch would turn a body into liquefied sludge. That, frankly, worried Thor.
And the result was obvious.
The poor "3.7" Northern God was pressed and pounded by the Grandmaster. Hammered into lumps, he couldn't even cry for help.
The Grandmaster was strong.
Undeniably strong.
The audience went wild, cheering like mad. Valkyrie bit her lip and shook her head, light flashing in her eyes as she weighed something fast, hesitating.
"Alas, poor wretch. To dare provoke me. But in my mercy, I shall release your life."
With a look of lofty compassion, the Grandmaster leveled the liquefying scepter at Thor.
Thor could only smile bitterly.
If not for burning so much divine power fighting Hela, he would never have flipped the cart so easily. He could cough blood.
But as Asgard's current king, how could he yield? He could only… ask for help!
"Saitama, bro… save—me—!"
(End of Chapter)
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