The fight between Thor and Lu Bu came to a close as Thor landed the final, devastating blow. But to the shock of all the gods, Lu Bu did not shatter into non-existence. Instead, a warm, golden light enveloped him, his wounds healing instantly before he and his Valkyrie partner teleported out of the arena in a flash of light.
A stunned silence fell, then erupted into chaotic uproar. The gods looked around in confusion, until Zeus shot to his feet, his face purpling with rage. "Hey! What the hell is this about?!"
Tet stood up calmly, pulling out a loudspeaker. He raised it, and his voice echoed with cool authority across the divine stands. "The rules were a fight to the death, not until soul-shattering. The Einherjar are already dead. Retrieving them after their defeat is within the rules."
The explanation only fueled the outrage. The crowd of gods began booing, shouting insults and calling Tet a cheater. Tet's expression remained placid, but he was about to speak again when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
He looked over and saw Beerus, whose usual look of bored irritation had sharpened into something dangerous. "I've got this, my friend," the Destroyer said quietly. "Sit and enjoy the show."
Beerus floated up from his seat until he hovered before the roaring crowd. He took a deep breath, and when he shouted, his voice wasn't just loud—it was a wave of palpable, annihilating pressure that silenced the arena.
"YOU UNGRATEFUL PEST! SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP! BE GLAD LORD TET IS MERCIFUL, OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE ALREADY OBLITERATED YOU ALL!"
He then turned his piercing gaze down to Heimdall, who was trembling. "You! Referee! Start the next round. Now."
Heimdall jerked into action, panic in his eyes. "Y-yes, sir!"
Beerus floated back to his seat, the oppressive aura fading as he sat down beside Tet. "So," he murmured, his voice now casually conversational. "How long do you think it'll be before they crack and try to kill us?"
Tet leaned back, a small, knowing smile on his lips. "Probably by the start of round three."
"What do you want me to do if it happens?"
"Use your own discretion," Tet replied, his eyes scanning the seething crowd. "But don't kill them all. Some of them are worth keeping around." His smile vanished, replaced by icy finality. "But Odin dies. No matter what."
Beerus gave a slow, predatory grin. "Got it."
------
Over in the gods' stands, Hermes leaned forward, his usual calm smile strained as irritation crept into his eyes. He lowered his voice, speaking urgently.
"Father, they're making a mockery of us. We can't allow this to continue. Let us do something."
Zeus's gaze remained fixed on the arena for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then a slow, dangerous grin crept across his weathered face.
"Very well. You and Loki sneak over to their booth and take care of them. Through assassination, hostages, anything. Just get it done. I'm going to go fight."
Hermes straightened immediately. He bowed deeply, a sharp, eager smile returning to his face.
"Of course, Father."
In the next instant, his form shimmered and vanished.
Zeus grunted as he dragged his decrepit body up from the throne, bones creaking in protest he slowly made his way toward the arena entrance, each step deliberate, his eyes burning with anticipation.
-----
Down in the arena, Heimdall raised his mighty horn to his lips and shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, round two of Ragnarok has begun! Representing the gods, we have… this man!"
Into the arena stepped Zeus, who thrust a triumphant fist skyward as the divine crowd erupted in cheers.
"And his opponent," Heimdall boomed, "is this man!"
From the opposite entrance, a figure shuffled into the light. It was a bald, hunched-over old man, leaning heavily on a wooden walking stick. He wore a simple white tank top, wrinkled brown pants, and green sandals, with a pair of sunglasses obscuring his eyes. He appeared every bit as small and withered as the aged form of Zeus himself.
Heimdall's voice echoed once more, charged with theatrical flair. "Give it up for… Master Roshi!"
-------
Up in Tet's seats, Beerus chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. "You made him call the old fossil that, didn't you?"
Tet smiled faintly. "Master Roshi is worthy of respect. He has, multiple times, shattered the limits of what humanity is capable of, paving the way for future generations. Without him, Goku most likely wouldn't have gotten as far as he did."
Beerus looked thoughtful, stroking his chin. "Is that so? Maybe I do owe the old coot for that. And this fight will show me if he was a good pick for the Tournament of Power. So this works out."
"Either way," Tet said, his gaze growing serious as he scanned the horizon, "no matter who wins, this will be the last match."
Beerus's eyes narrowed in agreement, his earlier amusement gone. "So you felt it too, huh? Those two imbeciles slowly making their way over here. Yes, you're right. The minute they strike, this farce is over. I'll destroy the majority of these fools, leaving only the names on the list you gave me alive."
Tet sighed, a rare shadow crossing his features. "I only wish I had been wrong."
Whis, who had been quietly observing, tilted his head. "Oh, by the way, Lord Tet, I don't sense a Valkyrie with Roshi. Will he be able to harm that deity without one?"
Tet perked up, his momentary gloom replaced by a sly expression. "Oh, yeah, no problem. I gave Roshi a new walking stick."
Hestia, who had been listening, immediately eyed the simple wooden stick in Roshi's hand with deep suspicion. She turned to Tet, her voice sharp with realization. "Dear... did you disguise the Spear of Longinus as a walking stick and give it to a human that's about to face a god?"
Tet suddenly found the architecture of the arena ceiling utterly fascinating, avoiding her gaze as he whistled a soft, entirely innocent tune.
-----
Back in the arena, Zeus eyed Roshi with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm supposed to fight this feeble little human? Why, he looks like he could be killed by a stiff breeze!"
Roshi adjusted his sunglasses, unfazed. "Right back at you, you fossil."
Zeus chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Fossil, am I? We'll see what you think after this!" With a grunt of effort, Zeus began to transform. His aged hunch straightened out with a series of audible pops. His form expanded rapidly, growing into a giant who towered over the Roshi, his body now a mass of bulging, divine muscle. He looked down at the still-withered Roshi, his voice echoing. "What do you think now, mortal?"
"Not impressed," Roshi said flatly. "I can do it, too."
Before Zeus could question him, Roshi took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and thrust it forward. Instantly, his own transformation erupted. His withered frame swelled with power; his hunch disappeared as mighty muscles surged to life along his arms, legs, and torso. Though not as colossal as Zeus, Roshi now stood as a pinnacle of human potential, his body brimming with defined, powerful muscle. He stared up at the giant god with unshakable defiance, a slight, confident smirk on his face.
"Well," Roshi said, cracking his neck. "Let's get this thing started." He bent down to pick up his walking stick, but instead of wielding it, the staff shimmered and dissolved into a stream of pure, golden energy that flowed directly into his body, causing the entire arena to gasp in shock.
-----
Back in the stands, Tet gestured toward the arena. "See? The spear isn't the weapon itself; it's just a battery that's temporarily augmenting Roshi's body with divine energy. Now, Roshi himself is a god-killing weapon."
Beerus's eyes gleamed with interest. "Hey, do you think I could convince you to let him keep that?"
Tet's answer was immediate and firm. "No."
Beerus sighed, a slight shrug in his shoulders. "Worth a shot." He leaned back, curiosity replacing his disappointment. "What did the old man ask for as a reward, anyway?"
"Surprisingly," Tet said, a note of respect in his voice, "he asked for nothing, saying this fight was reward enough."
Beerus nodded slowly, a new layer of understanding crossing his features. "I see."
(Authors Note: I'm sorry for being gone so long I've been sick for almost two weeks and am only just now feeling well enough to write expect more soon the next chapter is already just about finished and then you can expect another chapter of Marcus side story)