Olaf moved like a predator.
A massive one.
The blond-haired, blue-eyed giant stood just over six feet tall and weighed nearly three hundred pounds of dense, conditioned muscle. Despite the size, he moved with the balanced grace of a trained warrior, the kind of controlled aggression that only came from years of fighting men who were trying just as hard to hurt him.
Shane Albright had faced large men before.
He had built houses with them. Wrestled them. Worked beside them.
But Olaf was something else entirely.
Even ignoring the celestial component, the man was the reigning MMA heavyweight champion of the most popular fighting promotion in the world.
And right now he was stalking Shane across the octagon.
Shane backed toward the cage wall, circling carefully.
At six-foot-five and two hundred forty-five pounds, Shane was not a small man. His recent leveling had turned his body into something closer to a professional athlete than a construction worker. His movements were sharp, efficient, and far faster than they had been a month ago.
But Olaf still had fifty pounds on him.
And a lifetime of fighting experience.
Olaf stepped in.
Shane braced for the clinch—
And vanished.
For the briefest instant the space where Shane had been simply emptied.
Olaf blinked.
Then instinct screamed.
He spun.
Shane had reappeared behind him, arm already sliding across Olaf's throat for a rear naked choke.
"Good," Olaf grunted.
He exploded backward with brute strength.
The hold broke instantly.
The two separated again.
They circled.
Two giants.
Two predators testing one another.
They exchanged strikes and grappling attempts for several more minutes before Olaf finally stepped back, raising a hand.
"Break," he said.
Both men leaned against opposite sides of the cage, breathing hard.
Sweat dripped from Shane's hair onto the mat.
Olaf wiped his forehead with a towel and studied Shane with clear interest.
"That," Olaf said slowly, "was not super speed."
Shane shook out his arms, rolling his shoulders.
"No," he admitted. "Teleportation."
Olaf raised an eyebrow.
Shane chuckled slightly.
"Trust me, I was just as surprised when the system gave it to me."
He leaned against the cage.
"I wanted to test it in a controlled space. Teleportation works better than super speed in here because the octagon is small."
Olaf nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense."
Shane continued explaining.
"Since the last level jump, the system started tracking strain thresholds. Super speed burns through its limit fast. I get one real burst a day before the system locks it down."
He pointed around the cage.
"But teleportation? I get three uses per day. And it's instant."
Olaf rubbed his chin.
"I did not sense a celestial energy trail."
Shane blinked.
"You can normally sense that?"
Olaf nodded.
"Yes. During the fight with ElToro I felt it immediately."
Shane stared at him.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
Olaf shrugged slightly.
"I simply did not know who was responsible."
Shane laughed quietly.
"Well… that mystery is solved now."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the cage wall.
"Speaking of ElToro."
Olaf looked at him.
"AN had him arrested after the loss."
Olaf's expression hardened.
"Arrested?"
"Immigration violation," Shane said. "They held it over him for years apparently. Deportation is next."
Olaf considered that carefully.
"Punishment for failure."
"Exactly."
Olaf paced a few steps.
"Do you think we should help him?"
Shane didn't answer immediately.
Helping ElToro had risks.
Huge risks.
AN would absolutely notice.
But…
ElToro had already been used.
That meant he knew things.
And a man abandoned by AN might be willing to talk.
Shane nodded slowly.
"It might give us an ally."
Olaf waited.
Shane finished the thought.
"But it will definitely draw AN's attention."
Olaf gave a decisive nod.
"Then we do it."
Shane grinned.
"Alright."
He pulled out his phone.
"Let me get my team moving."
⸻
Meanwhile — Albright Roofing HQ
Gary, Ben, and Amanda were reviewing paperwork inside the new headquarters building.
The place was still half construction zone, half office.
Stacks of materials lined the walls.
Temporary desks had been assembled.
Blueprints covered the central table.
Gary tapped one of the documents.
"So the orphanage roof gets replaced first," he said.
Amanda nodded.
"That's what Shane wanted."
Ben scratched his beard.
"Free roof for the reservation orphanage."
Gary shrugged.
"Seems like a good place to start."
Amanda smiled slightly.
"Kids first."
Ben walked toward the coffee pot.
"Coffee break before we start the supply run?"
Gary nodded.
Ben wandered off toward the small kitchenette.
Leaving Gary and Amanda alone.
They both noticed it.
Neither spoke at first.
Amanda leaned against the table.
Gary rubbed the back of his neck.
They had been dancing around this moment for months.
Gary finally said quietly,
"You doing alright today?"
Amanda smiled softly.
"Yeah."
They looked at each other.
Gary started to reach for her hand—
FLASH.
A bright white burst of light filled the room.
Gary and Amanda both flinched and turned away.
When they looked back—
Shane was standing in the middle of the office.
Ben dropped the coffee pot.
It shattered on the floor.
Gary stared.
Amanda stared.
Neither spoke.
Finally Gary said:
"…boy that skill is scary."
Shane grinned.
"You should see it from my side."
Amanda blushed.
She knew exactly what Gary meant.
Ben sighed while grabbing paper towels.
"Shane."
"Yes?"
"You might want to warn us before teleporting into the room."
Shane scratched the back of his neck.
"Fair."
Ben pointed at the door.
"What if someone else had been here?"
Shane nodded.
"Good point."
Gary and Amanda both visibly relaxed.
Shane hadn't noticed.
Ben finished cleaning up the coffee.
"So what brings you back?"
Shane pulled out his phone again.
"I need Cory and Silas working on something."
⸻
Telepathic System Message
Shane contacted his team through the system.
"Cory, Silas — start the process to get ElToro released. Immigration lawyers. Use the network."
Acknowledgment came back instantly.
Then Shane turned to Gary.
"Olaf wants to help him."
Gary nodded.
"Good call."
Shane glanced around the room.
"Alright I'm heading back."
Gary pointed at him.
"Warning next time."
Shane raised a hand.
"Noted."
FLASH.
He vanished again.
⸻
Back at the Training Center
Shane reappeared in the octagon.
Olaf was stretching.
"You warned me this time," Olaf said.
Shane grinned.
"Trying to learn."
He explained the plan to free ElToro.
Olaf nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Then Olaf leaned against the cage and thought for a moment.
"I have another idea."
Shane waited.
Olaf smiled slightly.
"We host an outdoor MMA event."
Shane blinked.
"What?"
"Invite reservation youth," Olaf continued. "Kids from high-risk areas. Show them discipline. Fighting. Training."
Shane nodded slowly.
"That could work."
"I can bankroll it," Shane offered.
Olaf shook his head.
"No."
Shane raised an eyebrow.
Olaf smiled slightly.
"You sponsor me. That is enough."
He gestured broadly.
"I am the heavyweight champion of the most popular MMA promotion in the world."
Shane laughed.
"Fair point."
Olaf grinned.
"I have connections."
Then Olaf looked at him.
"Actually…"
Shane narrowed his eyes.
"Uh oh."
Olaf smiled.
"Would you like a match?"
Shane blinked.
"…what?"
"Light heavyweight debut," Olaf said casually.
Shane hadn't even finished processing the idea when his system spoke.
NEW QUEST: WIN DEBUT MMA BOUT
REWARD: +1 SKILL LEVEL
Shane sighed.
"Well… guess that answers that."
Olaf laughed loudly.
"You accept?"
Shane shrugged.
"Apparently."
Olaf slapped him on the back hard enough to shake him.
"Welcome to MMA."
⸻
Searching for Frigg
Shane remembered something.
"The Frigg quest."
Olaf nodded.
"Yes."
They began discussing possibilities.
"Orphanages," Olaf suggested.
"Group homes," Shane added.
"Places where children need protection."
Shane nodded.
"That fits her nature."
Olaf continued thinking aloud.
"Advertisements might work too. Social media messages playing on her persona."
Shane nodded.
"But that assumes she remembers."
Olaf sighed.
"Yes."
Then Olaf added something else.
"There is also Freya."
Shane looked up.
"The warrior goddess."
Olaf nodded.
"We should search for her as well."
Then Olaf's expression shifted.
"I may already know where she is."
Shane leaned forward.
"Seriously?"
Olaf nodded slowly.
"I believe she may be a movie star."
Shane blinked.
"Wait what?"
"Jessalyn Ingalls."
Olaf described her.
"Extraordinary beauty. Roles emphasizing strength. Famous for provocative performances."
Shane pulled up the system screen.
Photos appeared.
Shane stared.
"…wow."
Olaf smirked.
"Yes. That fits."
Shane asked carefully,
"Were you two… involved?"
Olaf burst out laughing.
"No."
He wiped a tear from his eye.
"Frigg was my love."
Then he explained.
"Freya was my counterpart."
"She taught me much."
"Half of the dead belong to her."
Shane tilted his head.
"What?"
Olaf nodded.
"I rule Valhalla."
"She rules Fólkvangr."
"She always chose first among the slain."
Shane stared.
"…that is extremely competitive."
Olaf grinned.
"Yes."
Then his tone became serious.
"If we both went into reincarnation we must find each other."
"Destiny demands it."
Shane nodded slowly.
"Then we'll find her."
⸻
Gambling Warning
As Shane prepared to leave, Olaf stopped him.
"One more thing."
Shane paused.
"You play fantasy football."
Shane nodded.
"Yeah."
"That counts as gambling," Olaf said.
Shane frowned.
"So?"
"If you are an MMA fighter," Olaf continued, "that becomes a contract violation."
Shane blinked.
"…oh."
Olaf nodded.
"You must stop."
Shane sighed.
"But those wins help your conditions."
Olaf smiled.
"Yes."
"So find someone else to play."
⸻
Later — HQ
Shane returned to the office.
He pulled Ben aside.
"I need you to play fantasy football."
Ben blinked.
"…what?"
Shane explained.
"Twenty-five dollars per week."
"I'll pick the players."
Ben frowned.
"…why?"
Shane shrugged.
"Just trust me."
Ben sighed.
"Fine."
⸻
Evening — Dinner After Work
Gary and Amanda left the headquarters building together just after sunset.
It had become routine.
Work.
Dinner.
Meeting.
Home.
The routine itself was something both of them treasured. A year ago neither of them had possessed anything resembling stability.
Now they did.
Both Gary and Amanda had been rock solid in their recovery. If you counted Amanda's head start they were approaching a combined year of sobriety between them. Gary still occasionally found it surreal how much his life had changed.
A year ago he had been a wreck.
Now he ran operations for a rapidly expanding construction company and had a woman beside him who actually understood the battle he fought every day.
And Shane had given them both that chance.
Gary never forgot it.
Neither did Amanda.
They worked hard because of it. Showed up early. Stayed late. Took responsibility when others would have avoided it. Shane never demanded loyalty—but he earned it constantly.
Amanda glanced over at Gary as they walked into the restaurant.
"You know," she said, "Shane has no idea how much good he's doing."
Gary chuckled.
"Yeah, well if he slows down long enough to think about it he'll probably start building three more branches."
They found a booth near the back and sat down.
The restaurant had the comfortable hum of a place where locals gathered regularly—plates clinking, quiet conversations, a television murmuring somewhere above the bar.
A waitress approached a minute later.
She was small.
Petite.
Maybe five-foot-three and ninety-five pounds soaking wet.
But she carried herself with a bright confidence and a warm smile that made people relax immediately.
Gary noticed Amanda watching her carefully.
When the waitress left with their drink order Amanda leaned across the table.
"Don't you think she and Shane would hit it off?"
Gary followed Amanda's gaze toward the waitress.
He tilted his head slightly while studying her.
Amanda punched his arm.
"Hey."
Gary raised both hands defensively.
"I was just looking because you told me to!"
Amanda laughed.
"What were you thinking then?"
Gary shrugged.
"Honestly? I was thinking she might be too short."
Amanda blinked.
"What?"
Gary grinned.
"Shane's six-five. He'd have to sit down to kiss her."
Amanda burst out laughing.
"That's your main concern?"
Gary shrugged again.
"Well it's practical."
Amanda wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Oh my god."
She leaned back in the booth, still smiling.
"What kind of girls does he like anyway?"
Gary thought about it for a moment.
"His ex was taller."
Amanda nodded.
"Yeah I remember you mentioning her."
Gary nodded.
"About five-eight, maybe one-twenty-five."
Amanda made a face.
"The intense one."
Gary laughed.
"That's the one."
Amanda tapped the table thoughtfully.
"Exactly."
Gary looked at her.
"Exactly what?"
Amanda gestured toward the waitress.
"Shane needs someone who can lighten the mood."
Gary followed her eyes again.
The waitress was laughing with another table.
Amanda nodded decisively.
"That girl has the right energy."
Gary shrugged.
"Height aside."
Amanda smiled.
"Height aside."
⸻
Meeting Erin
When they finished their meal and stood up to leave, Amanda waved the waitress over.
"Hey," Amanda said with an easy smile. "What's your name?"
The waitress tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Erin."
Amanda introduced herself and Gary.
They chatted casually for a minute.
Then Amanda asked, almost conversationally,
"So… are you single?"
Erin laughed with a tired sigh.
"Unfortunately yes."
Gary chuckled.
"That didn't sound very optimistic."
Erin shook her head.
"I just don't have a lot of time to meet people. And honestly… there are a lot of crazies out there."
Amanda nodded sympathetically.
"Oh we know."
Gary added dryly,
"You have no idea."
Amanda leaned forward slightly.
"Can we get your number?"
Erin blinked.
"For what?"
Amanda grinned.
"Our boss is a great guy."
Gary nodded.
"He just works too much."
Amanda continued,
"He doesn't really get out much, and we thought maybe we could set up a double date sometime."
Erin looked intrigued.
"Your boss?"
Amanda nodded.
"Great guy. Hard worker. Not crazy."
Gary raised a finger.
"That's an important qualification these days."
Erin laughed.
"You know what?"
She grabbed a small order pad and wrote down her number.
"Why not. I'll give it a shot."
They exchanged numbers.
Amanda smiled.
"Perfect."
⸻
Later That Evening
Gary and Amanda headed to their sobriety meeting.
The drive there was quiet, comfortable.
Halfway there Gary glanced at Amanda.
"You really think Shane would like her?"
Amanda nodded confidently.
"Yes."
Gary raised an eyebrow.
"You sure?"
Amanda smiled.
"I have excellent instincts."
Gary laughed.
"We're going to get blamed if this goes badly."
Amanda shrugged.
"Then we'll survive it together."
⸻
Returning Home
After the meeting they returned to the rental house where Shane and the others were staying.
They found Shane sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by paperwork and a tablet displaying schedules.
He looked up as they walked in.
"You two just getting back?"
Gary nodded.
"Meeting ran long."
Shane tapped the tablet.
"I'm trying to figure out the weekend schedule."
Amanda sat across from him.
"You busy?"
Shane shrugged.
"Not too bad actually. Most evenings are training with Olaf and Bjorn but I could probably take a break one night."
Amanda and Gary exchanged a subtle glance.
Amanda nodded.
"Good."
Shane looked up suspiciously.
"What?"
Gary waved a hand casually.
"Nothing."
Amanda smiled innocently.
"We were just thinking maybe we should all go out this weekend."
Shane frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Gary shrugged.
"You work too much."
Amanda nodded.
"You need a break."
Shane considered that.
"Maybe."
Gary said quickly,
"Saturday?"
Shane checked the schedule.
"Saturday works."
Amanda smiled.
"Perfect."
They didn't mention Erin.
They decided to keep it a surprise.
⸻
Later That Night
When Shane finally headed to bed he paused for a moment in the hallway.
He thought about everything waiting for him.
Celestials.
Apex Negativa.
Training with Odin.
Finding Frigg.
Debuting in MMA.
Teleportation.
Time manipulation.
All of it felt dangerous.
All of it felt manageable.
But something about the vague idea of going out with Gary and Amanda this weekend felt strangely unsettling.
Shane rubbed the back of his neck.
He muttered quietly to himself,
"I can fight gods…"
He sighed.
"But dating?"
He shook his head.
"That might actually be the dangerous one."
A true deadly risk.
********************
"If you enjoyed Shane's journey, please drop a Power Stone! It helps the Common Sense Party grow!"