Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
You can also read on my website:
tlmasters.xyz
I'd really appreciate your support. Every membership helps keep me motivated to continue translating and releasing chapters consistently.
*****
"It's a deal!"
Thor immediately broke into an excited grin. Stripped of those bizarre golden portals, he didn't believe for a second that his strength was inferior to Feny's. Last time, his mind had been preoccupied with Loki; this time, he could commit himself entirely to the thrill of battle.
Watching Thor depart in high spirits, Feny curled his lip in a silent smirk, clearly seeing through the Prince's confidence.
However, he didn't expect to lose either. At the very least, he was confident he could fight all day and maintain a draw without any issue. In truth, aside from Odin—against whom he had zero certainty of victory—everyone else in Asgard was essentially an "experience points baby" in his eyes.
Feny made his way to the library, found the section Thor had mentioned, and began leafing through the books with genuine interest.
Following their previous bout, Fandral and the others didn't bother Feny further. Stung by their defeat, they were currently buried in rigorous training, desperate to reclaim their pride.
After some study, Feny realized that the language of the Flora colossus wasn't particularly difficult. After all, if even Thor could learn it, it couldn't be that complex.
Engrossed in his studies, the day slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, before Feny could even finish his breakfast, Thor came charging into his room like a whirlwind, boisterously demanding their duel.
"Is there really such a rush?"
Feny watched the restless, eager God of Thunder with a look of helplessness while continuing to eat the breakfast the palace maids had carefully prepared for him. It felt as though Thor had only just returned from a battlefield two days ago.
Usually, Feny was the one chasing others for challenges; this was the first time he had been hounded for one.
Under Thor's expectant, puppy-dog gaze, Feny finished his meal and followed him to the designated combat area—a vast, open clearing not far from the palace.
A large crowd of Asgardians had already gathered around the perimeter. Upon seeing the two arrive, they erupted into cheers of anticipation. Word of the impending duel had clearly traveled fast.
Sif and the Warriors Three were also present, standing on the sidelines shouting encouragement for Thor.
To Feny's surprise, he even heard voices in the crowd cheering for him. A quick glance revealed quite a few beautiful young ladies among his supporters. Aside from the difference in physical constitution, Asgardians looked almost identical to Earthlings; consequently, Feny's good looks were just as effective in the Golden City as they were back home.
"Are you ready?"
Standing in the center of the clearing, Thor asked Feny with visible excitement. He repeatedly reminded himself of one thing: Do not throw the hammer.
"Of course!"
Feny immediately summoned Incursio. The silver armor gleamed brilliantly under the golden rays of the Asgardian morning sun.
"Then let us begin!"
Thor announced with a roar. He reflexively raised Mjolnir to hurl it, but instantly remembered his self-imposed rule—keep the hammer in hand—and hurriedly lowered his arm.
Though puzzled by Thor's stuttered movement, Feny didn't idle. He naturally activated his Breathing Technique, channeling the absorbed solar energy into Incursio.
Whish!
The silver-white armor turned crimson in the blink of an eye, followed by a sudden eruption of flames that engulfed his entire body. The surrounding Asgardians were startled, and many let out cries of shock.
Even Thor, who had been about to charge, froze in his tracks, unsure of what was happening to Feny.
"Don't worry, this is just my magic!"
Hearing the worried gasps of the lovely ladies in the distance, Feny turned his head to offer a brief explanation before looking back at the stunned Thor. "Let's continue!"
Thor looked at the flaming Feny with lingering doubt, struggling to suppress the urge to toss his hammer for a quick probe. He also hesitated about whether to call upon his lightning, fearing he might seriously injure Feny.
Seeing Thor remain stationary, Feny decided to take the initiative. His "Flame Mode" provided a significant boost to his physical strength, so he planned to test the effects in close-quarters combat first.
With the crimson flames roaring and radiating waves of intense heat, Feny's speed was slightly reduced, but he remained incredibly fast. Amidst the cheers of the onlookers, he closed the distance to Thor in a flash.
Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir. Watching Feny's incoming fist, he dodged to the side and immediately retaliated with a counter-swing of his hammer.
Feny didn't bother dodging. He shifted his angle, intending to meet Mjolnir head-on with his fist.
Boom!
The hammer and fist collided with a dull, heavy thud. Both combatants were forced back several steps. Feny retreated three paces, while Thor, bolstered by the weight of the hammer, only stepped back twice. In terms of raw power, Thor and his weapon still held the upper hand, though the gap was narrow.
Thor stared at Feny in shock. During their first encounter in New York, Feny's strength hadn't been nearly this terrifying. How much time had passed since then?
For a fleeting moment, even Thor felt a sudden urge to learn magic.
Of course, Thor had no way of knowing that Feny's "magic" was unique to him; it wasn't something just anyone could learn.
The battle continued.
Feny continued to trade blows with Thor in a brutal show of force. A hammer is a blunt instrument designed for crushing; fortunately, Incursio had evolved "Physical Resistance," making it highly effective at neutralizing such damage.
Moreover, while Feny felt no ill effects from the flames coating his body, Thor's golden hair was already starting to smell slightly singed.
On the surface, it looked as though Feny was suppressing Thor.
Luckily, Mjolnir wasn't just a hunk of metal; it was a magical weapon. Besides granting flight, it carried the power of the God of Thunder. As the battle intensified, the battered Thor stopped worrying about whether he would hurt Feny. Seizing an opening, he raised Mjolnir, and a bolt of lightning streaked outward.
Having spent years sparring with the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, Incursio had also evolved "Magic Resistance," though its effectiveness against raw lightning wasn't quite as potent as its physical counterpart.
The strike left Feny's body numb for a moment. In that split second of distraction, a follow-up swing from the hammer sent him flying backward, allowing Thor to reclaim some of his dignity.
In truth, the most effective way to deal with the current version of Incursio would be a bladed weapon or the razor-sharp claws of a creature like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon or a great cat. Conversely, attacks involving fists, hammers, blunt force, energy blasts, or explosions were difficult to land effectively unless they possessed overwhelming power.
The fierce exchange had the surrounding Asgardians in a state of high excitement. Defeating the Warriors Three was one thing, but seeing Thor pushed this hard truly opened their eyes to Feny's power.
They began to gossip fervently.
"Is he really from Midgard?"
"Yes, I heard he's a powerful mage!"
"A mage?! Why does he look more like a knight to me? He's just missing a mount!"
"He has a mount!"
Hearing the conversation nearby, a short man piped up with a mysterious air, clearly thinking he had the inside scoop. "I heard from my neighbor's girlfriend's brother's friend that he keeps a massive white dragon. It can swallow ten Frost Giants in a single gulp!"
"Yes, yes! I heard that too!" another person chimed in. "They say it eats them whole and doesn't even spit out the bones!"
Feny, who had just climbed back to his feet after being numbed by the lightning, happened to overhear this exchange. He felt a wave of speechless exasperation. From the day it was born until now, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon had never tasted a single drop of blood.
Ten Frost Giants in one gulp? Without spitting out the bones?
Ignoring the increasingly wild rumors of the Asgardian crowd, Feny let out a soft breath.
Having tested the limits of his Flame Mode, he was ready to get serious. It was time to show these Asgardians that even though he wore armor and kept a dragon, he was still, first and foremost, a sorcerer!
(End of Chapter)