"Boom!"
A deafening explosion echoed across the battlefield—but surprisingly, it wasn't Rowe's doing.
Through the swirling stratus clouds, clad in radiant golden armor and astride the eight-legged steed Sleipnir, Odin descended like a god of judgment.
Thunder surged around him, arcs of electricity dancing wildly across his figure as he raised his long spear, Gungnir, with a single hand.
In an instant, a thunderbolt as thick as a dragon's body descended from the heavens.
"Boom!"
The blast annihilated a stone tower entirely, vaporizing the structure and punching deep into the earth beneath.
The resulting crater spanned more than ten meters in width, charred black with residual electricity. Dozens of frost giants and demons in the vicinity were obliterated on impact—no bodies remained.
Hovering above, Odin muttered to himself,
"Uller, can you see the spatial channel now?"
"No," came Uller's reply telepathically.
"Two stone towers remain. Destroy those, and I'll have a complete visual on the enemy camp."
"Understood."
Odin nodded, his grip on Gungnir tightening as he prepared to strike again.
Suddenly, an icy blue flash erupted from the ground below. A jagged ice projectile, easily over ten meters long, launched toward Odin at terrifying speed.
Sleipnir veered sharply in midair, narrowly avoiding the deadly ice lance.
"Odin! Your opponent is me!" a deep, resonant voice boomed.
Odin looked down and saw a towering frost giant glaring up at him.
Cold mist surrounded the giant's body, frost forming across his skin.
"Grimir," Odin said with a knowing smile.
"It's been a long time."
Before their reunion could escalate, flames surged upward from another corner of the battlefield.
A figure emerged, wreathed in blazing fire, and floated to eye level with Odin.
He was gaunt, skeletal, and clad in scorched armor.
His flaming skull flickered with wrath.
"And me," the fiery demon said, voice low and menacing.
Odin's expression darkened.
"Zatanos. Cast out from Hell, were you? Mephisto tired of your arrogance?"
The fire around Zatanos flared in response.
"This is Ragnarok, Odin. I've come to make sure you die in this war."
Odin scoffed.
"Outside of Hell, no one is as presumptuous as you, Zatanos."
"Outside or inside—I'll burn you all the same."
With no more words, Odin raised Gungnir.
"Boom—!"
Thunder exploded across the skies.
The heavens blackened as storm clouds gathered and howled with divine fury.
Lightning wrapped around Odin and Sleipnir like armor, bathing them in radiant blue.
Rain poured in torrents. Winds roared like wild beasts across the battlefield.
Sky. Storm. Wind. Rain.
Odin, the All-Father and Sky God, summoned all his elemental might.
A swirling column of rain twisted under his command, driving downward at Zatanos with devastating force.
In retaliation, Zatanos conjured a fiery chain from thin air.
Swinging it in front of him, he created a shield of flames just as the rain column struck.
"Boom!"
Water met fire in an explosion of steam and force.
Vapor surged skyward, and the rain returned again like waves on the shore.
Odin roared, thunder pouring from him.
Lightning fused with the water, transforming the pillar into a searing cascade of electrical fury.
"Boom!!"
Sky lit up with a blinding clash—lightning, flame, water, and steam spiraled into a breathtaking storm of raw power.
A shimmering rainbow arced faintly in the distance.
Zatanos, ablaze and reeling, fell from the sky.
Right before impact, he steadied himself and halted just above ground level, hovering.
Meanwhile, rain saturated the battlefield.
Grimir took advantage, gathering water into sharp crystalline shards.
He raised his arms and cast a vast summoning gesture.
Thousands of ice thorns formed in the air.
With a wave of his hand, they launched skyward in a glacial barrage.
Odin, still cloaked in thunder, urged Sleipnir into a swift aerial dance.
The steed weaved through the hailstorm of ice with unnatural grace.
Odin retaliated with a mighty swing of Gungnir.
A second bolt of thunder screamed from the heavens, crashing into another stone tower and disintegrating it in a flash.
"Uller! Progress?"
"Still nothing."
Odin exhaled sharply.
"Fine. One left. Let's finish this."
With Zatanos and Grimir pressing the assault, Odin plunged back into battle.
On the ground, Heimd's unit had engaged an enemy battalion composed entirely of demons.
Heimd turned to Rowe.
"Time to show us what you've got. Think you can handle this group on your own?"
Rowe twirled his warhammer with excitement.
"Watch me."
Without hesitation, Heimd led the rest of the squad away, leaving Rowe alone against a horde of snarling demons.
"…Great," Rowe muttered, seeing the dozen demons advance.
At first they looked surprised, but then grinned wickedly and charged.
Taking no chances, Rowe summoned his divine connection.
Blessing of the King!
His body erupted in radiant holy light.
Gleaming golden armor materialized around him, exuding divine power.
He stood tall—transformed into a paladin of righteous fury.
Holy Light Strike!
One of the demons lunged at him.
Rowe's hammer met the attack with a blazing arc of holy power.
The demon raised its weapon to defend, but against Holy Light—especially under King's Blessing—it was useless.
"Boom!"
The strike detonated, blowing away half the demon's skull.
The rest of its body collapsed, smoking.
Seeing this, the other demons hesitated.
Instinctively, they felt dread.
Rowe took the offensive, leaping into the heart of the group and letting himself be surrounded.
Receive the warm greetings of the Holy Light!
Blessed Hammer!
Verigan's Fist unleashed its power.
Hammers of holy energy spun in a whirlwind around Rowe, smashing into enemies in rapid succession.
"Boom boom boom!"
Demons fell left and right.
Most exploded into ash where they stood.
Only one survived—and ran screaming.
"Retreat!" another howled.
The rest turned and fled in a panic.
Rowe reached out.
Hand of Reckoning!
The retreating demon was struck by divine force but kept running, its fear too deep to overcome.
Shrugging, Rowe pulled a vial and drank.
Swiftness Potion.
He blurred forward in pursuit.
Hammer of Judgment!
One demon collapsed.
Sword of Justice!
Another dropped.
Rowe was unstoppable.
Against Holy Light, only the strongest demons could resist.
And outside of Hell, the demon's strength diminished drastically.
Had this fight occurred within Hell, Rowe would never be so casual.
But here, on neutral ground, the tide was his.
And he seized it—cutting down demon after demon, each righteous blow an execution.
Today, the paladin waged his crusade—
and the darkness had no place to hide.
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