Bang. Bang. Bang!
Loki's body hit the ground again and again, each impact leaving a crater in the arena floor. Hulk slammed him without mercy—sometimes lighter, sometimes harder—until the ground around them was scarred with pits shaped like Loki. One connected to the next, forming a jagged ring of destruction that spread outward like ripples.
Finally, with a last earth-shattering slam, Hulk released him. Loki's limp body landed in the deepest pit of all. Hulk looked down, snorted through his nose, and spat dismissively.
"Such a weak god."
He thumped his chest with both fists and roared to the heavens, "HULK!!"
The crowd froze in stunned silence. In the pit, Loki lay sprawled, one hand clutching his chest, the other limp beside his head. His eyes were vacant, hollow, as though the very life had drained from him. For a moment, he looked less like a god and more like a corpse awaiting burial.
If a priest had stepped into the arena then, sprinkled earth over his body, and whispered a quiet "Rest in peace," no one would have found it strange.
The silence hung heavy—until Tony Stark shattered it.
From the Kamar-Taj lounge, Tony pushed open the doors with a grin, raising his hands above his head and clapping. "Hulk! Well done!"
His applause echoed sharply in the hushed arena. Mordo and Wong soon followed, their own claps joining in. Their scattered applause rang out like a challenge, as if declaring that Earth's warriors had humbled Asgard's might.
Pepper Potts tugged at Tony's sleeve, whispering that they should tone it down, but Tony only shook his head. He had waited for this moment ever since he learned Asgard claimed dominion over the Nine Realms. In his mind, only Earth's people should rule Earth.
Then something unexpected happened.
From the stands, a few Asgardians began clapping as well. Soon more joined in, their applause swelling into cheers. One by one, they rose to their feet, pumping fists into the air.
"HULK! HULK! HULK!"
The chant rolled like thunder through the stadium. Hulk's raw, brutal strength, his unrestrained roar—it resonated with the Asgardians' warrior spirit. To them, this green titan embodied the qualities they revered most: ferocity, courage, power.
As for Loki? His defeat hardly mattered. The sight of Hulk slamming him like a ragdoll only proved that Loki had never been a true warrior.
Even from the Asgardian lounge, Thor joined the chorus, pounding his chest with a broad grin and shouting in rhythm with the crowd. "HULK! HULK!"
Tony blinked, amused. Were Asgardians always this boisterous? For a moment, he almost regretted not being the one in the arena receiving their cheers.
But Hulk—simple, smiling Hulk—stood tall in the center of the stage, basking in the praise. He raised his massive arms, roaring his name again with unrestrained joy. For him, this moment was pure triumph.
On the podium, Malrick turned toward Odin. "Your Majesty, can the results be announced?"
Odin, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, finally opened them. He cast a weary glance at Loki lying broken in the pit and sighed.
"Is that truly a mage from your order?" Odin asked dryly, his voice tinged with disbelief. "He looks more like one of our warriors."
Malrick shook his head. "He's no warrior. That form comes from Kamar-Taj's unique magic."
Odin gave him a long, skeptical look. If this was their "magic," it was unlike anything he had ever seen. But he did not argue.
Raising Gungnir, Odin tapped it against the ground. A ripple of divine power swept across the arena, carrying his voice to every corner.
"The third match goes to Kamar-Taj!"
The crowd roared. Odin continued, "With three victories out of five, Kamar-Taj now leads this contest. Do you wish to continue, Lord Malrick?"
Though Odin's words were neutral, Malrick could see the unspoken plea in his eyes.
He thought for a moment. It would be unwise to press too hard. This was meant to be a friendly alliance, not a feud. Finally, he inclined his head. "Let's continue. I've yet to see the famed Warriors Three, and I'd like to witness their strength for myself."
Odin smiled faintly at the remark and struck the ground again with his spear. "Very well. The fourth match begins in thirty minutes."
---
The crowd slowly dispersed, buzzing with excitement. Hulk, still grinning, shrank back down into Banner, who hurried off the stage tugging at his pants and clutching his briefcase. Thor carried the battered Loki back to their lounge.
When the next round began, Asgard sent in Fandral, the renowned First Swordsman of the Nine Realms. But even his proud stance wavered after witnessing his comrades' defeats. He entered the arena with bowed head and grim face, lacking his usual confidence.
For Kamar-Taj, there was no hesitation. Tony, Wong, Mordo, and Banner exchanged quick glances, then shoved a protesting Pietro firmly back onto the bench.
This time, Wong stepped forward. Straightening his robes, he walked onto the stage with his head high. His magic lit up the arena in dazzling displays: Rings of Raggadorr, the Winds of Watoomb, and conjured portals that bent the battle itself.
Twenty minutes later, Wong emerged to cheers, having fought Fandral to a hard-earned draw. The pride on his flushed face said everything—against the First Swordsman of the Nine Realms, he had held his own.
After a short break, the fifth and final round began. Grandmaster Hamir represented Kamar-Taj, facing Volstagg, the Lion of Asgard. Their clash was fierce, and after a dozen minutes, Hamir was narrowly defeated.
The challenge ended there: three victories, one draw, one loss. Kamar-Taj had triumphed.
Asgard, with only one win, salvaged a fragment of pride.
But the night was far from over.
The matches had stoked the crowd into a frenzy, and as the spectators prepared for the evening banquet, Thor leapt back onto the arena floor, grinning ear to ear.
He pointed his hammer toward Tony. "One more round!"
Pepper shouted in protest, but Tony only smirked. With a shrug, he stepped back onto the stage.
The fight that followed was a spectacle of light and thunder. Energy beams clashed with lightning, the ground quaking with each strike. Thor, wiser now, adapted quickly, and Tony found many of his earlier tricks less effective.
The two warriors battled evenly, the crowd's cheers echoing long into the night.
By the time it ended, darkness had fallen over Asgard.
____
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