The moment the Grandmaster revealed his identity, after only a brief pause of thought, he did something that shocked everyone. He dropped to one knee on the ground.
"What!!"
"The Grandmaster actually knelt. Even someone as strong as him has no choice but to submit under the might of the Lord of Life!"
"Quick, record this. This is a major news story. We can sell it for a fortune in star coins!"
"Tsk tsk, this is unbelievable. The Lord of Life truly deserves his title. Just his name alone made the Grandmaster kneel. This has never happened before in history!"
"Of course. The Lord of Life is infamous. Anyone who opposed him has been destroyed. The Grandmaster naturally does not want to end up like them."
"That makes sense. The Grandmaster is the ruler of Sakaar. He lives in luxury and comfort. If he offended the Lord of Life and died without even a complete body, then what's the point of ruling? Any sane person knows what choice to make."
Although kneeling before Beizhai, a Heavenly Father–level powerhouse, left the Grandmaster bitter inside, it was the only way he saw to survive. Compared to his own life, things like dignity or pride were worthless. To live was the only way to keep them. Without life, nothing remained.
But when Beizhai saw him kneel, her face revealed only disdain.
"You think too highly of yourself. Do you believe that kneeling erases the disrespect you just showed? You are far too naive."
Hearing this, the Grandmaster trembled and said quickly, "I dare not. I was blind and failed to recognize the god's envoy. I was wrong. I am willing to sacrifice everything I own to the Lord of Life. Please, spare me."
In front of the Lord of Life, even he had to bow. In a world where the strong rule, there was no shame in yielding.
"Hmph, what a sweet tongue. Do you think the Lord of Life needs anything you own?" Atago sneered, appearing before the Grandmaster in an instant.
"I meant no offense, I spoke without thinking!" The Grandmaster panicked and sank from one knee to both knees.
Seeing this, Beizhai said coldly, "Since your attitude shows true repentance, I will spare your life. But though death can be avoided, punishment cannot."
With that, she raised her hand. A wave of Reincarnation Power wrapped around the Grandmaster.
He screamed in agony. The power of reincarnation was the greatest nemesis of the soul. The Grandmaster, who had never once felt the taste of death, was suddenly plunged into the torments of the deepest hell. Boiling oil, blades, unending pain—it felt to him like an eternity had passed in just a few moments.
The torment of the soul was billions of times worse than any pain of the flesh. This one experience left him completely broken.
When Beizhai finally withdrew her power, the Grandmaster was already trembling uncontrollably. His whole body pressed against the ground, shivering in terror.
Everyone watching gasped. Even the Valkyrie still inside the chamber could not control her body. Her knees gave way and she bowed her head, trembling.
This was fear from the soul, not logic, not emotion. It was pure survival instinct.
"Hmph. Today was only a light punishment. If you dare repeat such insolence, I will tear out your soul, refine it daily, and let you suffer endless torment." Beizhai's voice allowed no room for doubt.
The Grandmaster dared not resist. He kowtowed repeatedly, crying, "Never again! From now on I will be your most loyal servant. Please accept me!"
"Good. From this moment, you are a servant of the Lord of Life. Your duty is to spread his glory across Sakaar and bring him more believers. Do well, and perhaps the Lord will reward you with even greater power." Beizhai spoke without expression.
Faith was the most important thing to Jason Kin now, and the ship girls who served as his saints knew it well. Their missions always revolved around gathering more believers.
The Grandmaster was perfect for this task. On Sakaar, his authority was absolute. With a single command, billions would follow. Though Sakaar was a barren planet, a population of several hundred million was still an enormous gain.
"I understand. I will obey. I will dedicate myself to spreading the Lord's faith and never disappoint him!" The Grandmaster said with full respect.
"See that you do." Beizhai nodded with satisfaction. At that moment, divine power erupted from her body and swept across the entire planet.
In an instant, seventy-two colossal statues of the Lord of Life rose from the ground, each hundreds of meters tall.
"These statues are the symbols of the Lord's might. They are for sacrifices and rituals. Protect them well."
"Yes, I will guard them with my life." The Grandmaster nodded quickly.
Beizhai gave a final approving look, then raised her hand. Divine light surged out.
The royal warship above the arena vanished into her grasp, along with Thor and Banner lying unconscious.
A beam of godly light then descended, enveloping Beizhai and Atago. In the blink of an eye, they vanished along with the warship and its captives.
Far away in the vast universe, a massive crimson battleship drifted. This was the Grandmaster's entertainment ship, now seized by Beizhai. Unlike Thanos' warships, it was built for pleasure, though it still carried weapons.
Inside were bars with drinks from countless worlds, luxurious halls, and endless entertainment facilities. The Grandmaster had lived for ages, and in indulgence no one could compare with him.
Now, Atago reclined lazily on a soft sofa, sipping wine with Beizhai.
Meanwhile, Thor and Banner sat miserably in the cockpit, piloting the ship toward Asgard.
Asgard was hidden behind a divine barrier. Only Asgardians or beings like Jason Kin could find it. Even Beizhai and Atago could not simply open a portal there, so Thor had to guide the way.
Thor did not complain. On the contrary, he was overjoyed. With these envoys helping him break the curse of Ragnarok, he would gladly do anything. His only regret was that the ship could not move faster.
But while they rushed toward Asgard, a storm was already brewing there.
After Heimdall and the others prayed to the Lord of Life, the rescue they expected did not come. Disappointment spread, but all was not lost.
A divine light had descended, covering them. As long as they stayed within it, Hela's attacks could not touch them. That light was the only reason they had survived until now.
It was clear the Lord of Life had granted it. Still, they did not understand. With his power, Hela could be defeated instantly. Why only send light, but not descend himself?
Confused, they could do nothing but hide in a cave and wait.
"Heimdall, any news? Have you seen anything?" the warriors asked.
Heimdall shook his head. "My sight spans the Nine Realms, but I have not yet seen Thor."
"Could he truly be dead?" Sif asked, worried.
"No. I can still sense a trace of his life. He lives, but he is far away."
"We are running out of food. If this continues, we will starve before Hela even breaks in," Fandral muttered darkly.
"Yes, her army surrounds us like guards over prisoners. I have never felt such humiliation in all my life."
"And why does the Lord of Life act this way? Would it not be easier to send his envoys to save us directly, instead of leaving us cowering here?" one warrior said.
"Silence! We must not question him," Sif snapped.
Just then, Heimdall's eyes widened in shock. Joy lit up his face.
"They are coming! Thor is alive! I feel his presence. And not only him, I sense two great powers beside him. They must be the envoys of the Lord of Life. He did not abandon us after all. He sent his envoys to Thor first, and now they are heading here. We are saved!"
The warriors cheered, their hearts filled with hope.
But far away, Hela's face darkened. She had thought herself unstoppable after Odin's death. Yet this divine light baffled her. No matter how she struck, she could not break it.
Only when her executioner explained did she learn of the Lord of Life, said to have made a pact with Odin as Asgard's protector.
Now, she realized, she was not fighting mere Asgardians, but the will of the Lord of Life himself.
And then, as she turned her gaze to the depths of space, her expression grew heavy.
"So, his envoys have come?"
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