By the time Surtr realized it, he was already surrounded by blue flames.
"To think you actually made me feel pain… not bad, God Warrior. Now it's my turn. Round two starts now." Deathmask's hoarse voice sounded from behind him.
"Sekishiki Kikaien!"
Countless blue flames engulfed Surtr's body. To his horror, the master of fire himself found he could not control these strange flames.
Kikaien was a fire that burned the soul, unlike ordinary mundane flame. It ignored physical defense and acted directly on the spirit.
"God Warriors really aren't simple…" In the end, the victor was still Deathmask, one of the Gold Saints.
"Lightning Plasma!" "Boar Light-Speed Punch!" Elsewhere, Aiolia unleashed his ultimate technique. Countless dense golden flashes poured from his fists. The God Warrior leader Frodi, clad in silver armor, answered with his own flurry of golden blows, canceling Aiolia's attack.
Worthy of a God Warrior leader—his strength was formidable.
"I don't have time to keep this going. Frodi, if you don't move aside, I'll have to knock you down." In the course of their battle, Aiolia had come to respect him; indeed, bonds between men were often forged with fists.
"Hmph. If you think you can, then try." Frodi shot back, refusing to back down.
If they weren't enemies with missions, the two might well have become friends.
Or, with Lyfia in the picture, maybe even rivals in love.
"Heh, it's rare to meet such a strong opponent. It's exciting. But do you really not know what that Andreas you mentioned has done? Sorry, Frodi—for myself, for the earth, for the innocent people of the north, and for Lyfia too, I have to defeat you here and move on! Burn, my Cosmo!" Aiolia's golden Cosmo flared higher and higher, reaching an incredible peak.
Frodi's Cosmo was completely overwhelmed.
"Lightning Plasma!" Denser and faster than Lightning Bolt, the web of fists swallowed Frodi before he could react.
Strike after golden strike slammed into him; even his God Robe with Odin's Sapphire shattered. As he slipped into unconsciousness, Frodi thought he glimpsed a unique golden radiance around Aiolia.
"Foolish mortals—behold a god's power." On the other field, Saga, Shaka, and Aiolos together were barely holding off Loki's bombardment.
"Piranhan Rose!" A shower of black roses rained down, cutting off Loki's attack. Aphrodite and Utgard, in a purple God Robe, appeared.
"You really were suspicious," Loki said flatly when he saw Utgard standing with the Gold Saints.
"Boss!" From another passage, Deathmask and Aiolia rushed in. All six Gold Saints were now assembled.
"I must admit, you Saints… your tenacity and strength are impressive, even to me. But unfortunately, you're still too late." Loki smirked. Massive chunks of stone began crashing down as the temple atop the World Tree started to collapse.
"Hahaha, too late, Gold Saints! Farewell." Andreas—or rather, Loki—ignored them, shooting up through the ceiling and into the open air.
He headed for the forked center of the World Tree, where a gigantic bud now swelled. It pulsed like a living thing, eerie Cosmo rippling outward.
By the time the Gold Saints caught up, Loki already held a strange long spear in his hand.
The Eternal Spear, mightiest artifact of Norse myth—a weapon that never missed and always returned once thrown.
"With this, no one in the world can stop me, Loki." Drunk on his new power, he laughed wildly, brimming with misplaced confidence.
"Tch, still a step too late." Saga and the others fixed their eyes on him, ready to move if he twitched.
"Boss, what now? This looks bad," Deathmask muttered, jerking his chin toward Loki.
Unhurried, Saga reached into the pouch at his waist. "Fortunately, Lord Meruem anticipated that this evil god might get his hands on the spear."
From that tiny bag he drew out a gleaming golden spear and a huge shield marked with a sun emblem—an absurdly mismatched sight.
The space-pouch, called Shumu Jiezi, was one of Bigao Star's greatest black-tech creations. Meruem had designed it based on space rings and filled it using sealing techniques from the ninja world. Materials were scarce, so only a few existed.
This wasn't some xianxia world where space rings were as common as dirt.
"These are spoils of war from Lord Meruem's and Lady Athena's battle with the war god—his own weapons. Even without divine power, they're still artifacts. They may not equal the Eternal Spear, but with them our chances improve." Saga handed the huge shield to Shaka and kept the spear for himself.
Shaka's Tenbu Hōrin had always excelled at both attack and defense.
Deathmask's eyes stayed glued to the pouch at Saga's waist. Smacking his lips, he said enviously, "Big boss, big boss, let me see what else you've got in there. Lord Meruem must've given you other good toys. Take them out and show us."
Saga leveled the golden spear at Loki in the sky. "There are a few more, but if you want a look, wait until we've finished off this evil god."
"Everyone—get ready!"
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