Chapter Three: Zeus Vs. Adam

"Good morning, Anne." Anjia said in her mind palace taking a sip of imaginary coffee.

"Do we have to do this every day?" Anne moaned.

"Yes, because I enjoy it. My sisters and I had an interesting talk at breakfast."

"I don't care."

"Oh, but it's about your friends. You should want to her this Anne. Anyway, while Sashin was sharpening her ax I was telling them about your dreams last night. Or should I say memories. Because that's how you've been trying to cope each night? Going back to happier times. At first it worked but about three hundred years in all your memories of your friends you started seeing my sisters instead. Your adventures in Amphibia don't help because you know WE did it. Then after six hundred you started seeing my mother instead of yours."

"Is there a point to this?"

"Last night it happened, you can no longer remember your father's face!"

"I…I know." Anne cried.

"The funny thing is Sashin and Marcelia said the exact same thing happened last night to Sasha and Marcy!"

"No…"

"Oh yes. We are whittling you three away to nothing! And deep down in each of you is a little girl crying 'Daddy! Daddy! I can't remember my daddy! Daddy doesn't remember me! Help me, Daddy! Help me!" Anjia laughed as Anne's tears flowed.

"Woah Polly, this is amassing work!" Goll said looking at a holographic screen shifting from planet to planet, dimension to dimension.

"Thanks, Goll. Tony and I finished it last night." Polly beamed. "It helps this places tech is super user friendly. As soon as the Loom is detected we'll get a notification on our phones."

"Still, I didn't realize the multiverse would be this big." Sprig sighed. "This thing has been running for how many hours? We're still at less than one percent. Couldn't we narrow it down with a little logic? The Three Goddess Sister rule over Amphibia so it would make sense that Tempestia would be hiding there."

"A reasonable deduction Sprig." Brunnhilde said. "Unfortunately, since the name the gods gave your world was lost, we cannot run a direct search. We'll just have to wait until find in the scanner finds it in looking for the loom."

"So even if we save Anne, Marcy, and Sasha, with the Calamity Stones being destroyed if we don't find that name. We can't go home." Ivy said dejectedly.

"We'll find it Ivy." Sprig said kissing his wife. "And until then both Anne and Daniel will take us in. She did before."

Brunnhilde looked around. "Speaking of my son, where has he and his brothers run off to? The second round is going to start soon."

Beneath the Valhalla Arena the Benson brothers found who they were looking for. "There he is." Tony said.

"Wait we need to talk to you!" Lucas said as the man turned a corner.

He stopped and not looked back. "Yes?"

Daniel took a breath before speaking to the man around the corner. "Look, we know what risk you're taking, and my brothers and I don't want to put any more pressure than you are already must be under fighting for the human race, but we want to ask for your help!"

"The women we love are in trouble and not just because of this challenge." Lucas explained.

"They are…prisoners of these goddesses." Tony went on. "We're afraid that if we fail Ragnarök we'll lose any of chance of. saving them. We need you to fight your hardest!"

Everyone knew of the man's sons but on hearing that his thoughts drifted back to his daughters when they were little, their smiling faces. "It's so frustrating!" Daniel yelled. "My future wife is suffering, and all I can do is ask other people for help! I feel so useless!"

The man exhaled. "I understand wanting to do something for the people you care about, but what your doing isn't useless. I get the feeling that you'll have your chance to do only what you can do to help them. In the meantime, trust in those that are helping you. If it helps them then you're helping your loves. Oh, and one more thing. You said your brothers, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then do your old man a favor. Be good to each, okay?" With that the man walked away.

Daniel put his hand over his heart. "That actually made me feel better."

"I know what you mean Danny. It's strange, hearing his advice, it felt like I was talking to Dad again." Lucas said.

"Me too." Tony agreed. "Well knowing who is, maybe we shouldn't be surprised."

As the man continued to walk, he thought. "Don't worry girls. You dad is going to protect you."

Sprig saw the brothers come up to the stands. "Where have you guys been? The match is about to start!"

"We'll tell you later. I…we just need to process it first." Daniel said as the arna went dark.

The spotlight shined on Heimdall again. "We're back. You may recall the gruesome state of the ring at the end of round one. But thanks to divine intervention it has been restored! Is every one ready? Because it's about time for round two! Next up for the humans, representing the hope of mankind, may he carry it through the entire match!"

"And may that hope be snuffed out at the end." Anjia said making her sisters giggle.

"And here he comes!" the floor opened, and a pillar raised up a figure reclining on top of it. Both gods and humans were shocked. Then all kinds of animal came running into the ring. "Huh? Who in the realm could have predicted such an entrance? 'Rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, over every creature that moves on the ground!' That's right. Thus did God bless our challenger, making him in his own image. To think the day would come that this man would rebel, stand up against his creator!"

The man clenched his fist and leapt down and walked forward. While it was an impressive jump the Planters had only one thing to say. "Oh, my Frog! He's naked!"

"In other words, you could say he's a man among men. Talk about a man's man! The only thing he holds is the weight of his fists! A keen disciple of raw, unarmed combat!" the man held up his hand into air as an apple fell out of the sky. "The originator of original sin! In the whole of history, no despises the gods more than this guy! If there's anyone who deserves to sock it to 'em, there's no debate, it has to be him."

"What did he say?!" The Three Goddess Sister screamed.

"He's the father of humanity. Introducing…" He bit into the apple. "…Adam!"

Adam spit the apple out, never liking them. "Sour."

"Could it be? The first mortal?" Huginn said shock.

Muninn was displeased. "What nonsense!"

"I must say, I disagree. I think he's rather dashing." Aphrodite said.

"How poetic, the first human shall be one of the final sacrifices." Anjia smiled.

"So, every human we know is descended from him? Like he's the roots of the human family shrub." Ivy said.

Heimdall continued. "Oh! What an unexpected turn of events we have. Even the gods are making a commotion over his appearance. See that, folks? That's what you call star-power! On that note, who might be facing off against him? Man's progenitor is no slouch. Well, we had the strongest of the Norse gods representing us in round one. This time it's the deadliest of Hindu Devas! Let's check him out!" The lights focused on an open entrance, but no one came out. "What the…huh?" a magic circle appeared that Heimdall used as a phone.

"What's with the sudden hold up?" Goll asked.

"This is an embarrassment to all us deities." Marcelia sighed pinching the bridge of her nose.

"What's that? A last minute change?" Adam heard Heimdall whisper. "So, who's next? Wait say that again. You're kidding!"

Then a violin was heard through the arena. "That music piece sounds familiar." Brunnhilde said. It was Air on the G-String

Walking into ring it was revealed that Hermes was playing the violin.

"Huh? That's Master Hermes, though." Goll said. "Hold on. Is he actually going to be the next opponent? But he wasn't on the list, so there has to be some mistake, right?"

"I smell a rat." Lucas said.

Brunnhilde then realized what this could really mean. "There's no way!"

Heimdall cleared his throat. "Apologies for the technical difficulties, folks. Moving along. I shall finish introducing our fighters for round two! I this corner there's Adam, you know, the man-among-men man. And up against him is… this gentlegod! Actually…it's the one standing behind him!"

"Why hello there, everybody!" Zeus said as the spotlight shined on him. "So please be gentle!" he said strike a pose.

"Not that creepy old fart!" Brunnhilde thought as Goll screamed.

"Of course, that perverted egomaniac would pull something like this." The Three Goddess Sisters moaned.

After Zeus struck a few poses, he snapped his fingers. "Come on, maestro! Hit it!"

"Hmmm. My goodness. Let's hope I haven't gotten too rusty." Hermes said raising the violins bow. Making several violins appear, floating in the air. "It's been several millennia since I've played that tune." A rainbow ring formed around the violins and Hermes got an excited look in his eyes. "I shall herald you to battle."

A similar tune began to play from the ring. "Wait, this melody. Could it be?" Heimdall wondered. "Why, it's 'Slayer on the G-String'!"

"What can I say this song always gets me pumped. Oh yeah!" Zeus said as he began to dance.

Polly turned the phone away from the field. "Sorry, everyone but I don't think you want to see that."

Heimdall went back to the into. "Adam was the first man to walk the Earth, which makes him the father of mankind. Therefore, Zeus being Zeus makes him, the father of the gods! Or rather, he's the GFOC! Godfather of the Cosmos!" Heimdall made a capital G shape with his hand. "The holy patriarch of the entire universe!"

The gods in the stands made the same gesture chanting. "GFOC! GFOC!" as Zeus ad Hermes continued their performance.

"Do you have any idea what it is we're looking at, Brunnhilde?" Goll asked weirded out. "Why are they acting so excited?

"Haven't got a clue." Her sister said.

"Yeah, this is just…sad." Tony agreed.

"Could they hurry this up?" Sashin asked annoyed. "We came to see a fight, not a talent show! Or lack of talent show."

"The gift of creation is at his whim." Heimdall said. "Whatever displeases him is sent back to the void!" Zeus' muscles began to expand. "A timeless tyrant, and absolute Olympian!"

"Not good!" Spring said horrified.

"Eons ago, he waged a war with the mightiest beings in the universe. The clash of the titans! In the end, he overthrew his own father, killing Cronus himself. He is the biggest battle buff ever! Truly the infinite among infinites, a real god of gods! Give it up for…" Zeus stood up pointing to the air as fireworks shot off. "Z…Z…Zeus! Z…Z…Zeus! Z…Z…Zeus!"

"Oh yeah!" Zeus shouted.

"Wha… What's happening here? Aren't we in enough trouble already? I… I… I know he's strong, but why's the final boss starting now instead of during the last round?"

"I don't know. But I didn't think he'd show up this early." Brunnhilde said chewing on her thumb. "I thought I was prepared but…I never expected this."

"I never seen Mom this worried about anything." Daniel thought unnerved.

Zeus hooted and holler as the lights turned up. Hermes had made his way back to the privet box and thought about how the switch occurred. "My goodness, what a troublesome man he is." He then heard stone break as his brother Ares, Greek god of war sat and broke his seat.

"That you pretty boy?" Sashin shouted. "About time you showed up Ares, what does Ragnarök not have enough maps or formations for you?"

"Some of us still have duties to perform Sashin." Ares yelled back. "We may both be war gods, but I refuse to be a brute like you!"

"Wimp!"

"I hate that woman!" Ares groaned. "In all the years I've know her she been the stereotypical savage that gives war a bad name."

"I know brother. I know." Hermes said setting down tea and snacks for Ares.

"I can't stand that guy!" Sashin whispered. "He's an embarrassment to war! When it's time for us to slaughter the gods, Ares is the first on my personal kill list!"

"We know Sashin. We know." Her sister sighed as this was not the first time that she had said this.

"Now it's the battle you've all been waiting for." Heimdall said. Round two's a real dream match. Zeus vs. Adam! The mightiest of gods against the first man!"

"You know, it's strange. This has kind of turned into that stupid argument I heard kids back home have about one's dad could beat up the others." Ivy said. "If the stakes weren't so high, you'd might call this pathetic."

Hey, you're going to do that fancy little trick, aren't you?" Zeus asked. "Ho-ho! It's my favorite, you know. The trick where you and the Valkyrie merge together. If you don't…" Zeus leaned in close. "…little man, this won't take long."

Adam pointed up and calmly said. "See for yourself."

A shinnying figure flew above them. Heimdall recognized it. "Pegasus?"

There was a small figure riding the legendary horse who Goll recognize instantly. "Ah! Those glasses are…"

"Yeah, the Valkyrie best suited to the father of mankind." Brunnhilde said. "Our sister, she who was abandoned by the gods. Reginleif."

Lucas smiled at one of his most powerful memories of the seventh sister. "If Aunt Leif didn't tutor me in fourth grade I would have been held back. She kept me together with my bros."

"She looks so awesome up there." Goll said.

Reginleif leapt off. "Adam, please give me your hand right now. It's vital that we create a bond between us. With that complete, I will then become a part of you."

Their fingers touched and both thought. In this moment now, our hearts are one!" Then Reginlief cried out. "Volundr!" Her body twist and shifted until in Adam's right hand appeared…

"Is that Adam's chosen weapon?" Goll asked.

"Brass knuckles?" Heimdal said in shock.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Pure arrogance." Marcelia scorned.

"These are pretty sweet." Adam said feeling the weapon in his hand.

THE FINALE BATTLE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

ROUND TWO

ZEUS VS. ADAM

THE BATTLE BEGINS!

"All right. Let's get this rolling." Heimdall announced. "The ultimate battle between god and man, Ragnarök, round two. Representing the gods, Zeus. Representing humanity, Adam. Let the battle begin!" The crowd cheered. Heimdall still couldn't believe what he saw. "What a twist! The Valkyries have used their Divine Treasure Forge Volundr to bestow Adam with some brass knuckles! It would seem as though this man really intends to fistfight Zeus, the king of gods himself. And my what a man he is. Truly a man among men."

"Hey Dad!" From behind him Adam heard his sons Cain and Able cheer him on and he smiled and the thought that they worked things out after their problems nearly seven million years ago.

Zeus chuckled at the spectacle. "Well now, you really pick a good one."

Adam looked at the knuckles. "Hmm. It's a pretty solid weapon. So, what's yours, chuckles?"

The gods and Goll weren't the only ones shocked by what came out of Adam's mouth. "Is he trying to get Zeus mad?! Adam seems way too calm!" Spring gasped.

"He's as laid back as you Lucas." Tony sighed.

Zeus laughed. "Oh, me? I want my fist to hear the cracking of your bones as they shatter into bits so… My bare hand should suffice." He kissed his fist.

"Well small favors." Daniel thought. "He not going to use his lightning bolts."

"Mmm. Okay then." Adam said. "But I think your gonna regret that."

"Well, I'll give you credit for your spirit!" Zeus gave a thumbs up and then hopped up and down to limber up. "All right, I'll go first! And for the first strike…" Zeus came in faster than his large frame would suggest. "Try this baby on for size!" The punch only took 0.01 seconds but Adam leaned his head to the side, so it missed completely. "Ho, ho, not bad."

"The legends were wrong again!" Daniel thought. "Zeus doesn't throw lightning bolts, he is one! Still Zeus didn't put a scratch on Adam!"

"That last attack was Zeus' near-light-speed jab!" Heimdall said. "Adam just dodged it without it without breaking a sweat!"

The humans went wild. "Hmm. Listen to them cheer." Ares said sipping his tea. All that noise because he dodged father's punch. A warmup-strike. These humans are pathetic. Tragically foolish creature. Wouldn't you agree, Hermes?"

"Yes, brother Ares. I most certainly would."

Zeus was enjoying himself. "Pretty good. No more pulling punches. Time for the real beatdown!" Zeus came throwing punches acerating with each one. Adam kept moving just out of the way of each one. Zeus use a special technique. "Meteor Jab!" throwing a rapid secession of punches but not one hit Adam.

"Not one drop of blood yet?" Sashin whined.

"Poor old Zeus' eyesight must be going." Marcelia mused.

"Well combat is a young god's game." Anjia said.

Heimdall commentated. "Zeus lets loose with a flurry of jab, jab, jab, jab, jabs! What an unbelievable flurry of fury! But against all odds, Adam keeps dodging, dodging, dodging, dodging, and dodging again! Zeus' fists keep flying faster and faster! But Adam rises to the occasion and dodges every single strike"

Polly noticed something. "Wait is it the camera or did Adam's eyes just glow?"

"And next up is…" Zeus switched up his game plan going for a kick. "…Divine Axe!"

"Hm. Looks like he's about to be cut clean in half." Ares said.

But in an effortless motion Adam jumped over the Divine Axe as the attack mad a shockwave that made large crack in the arena wall. "He… He dodged it! Adam dodged Zeus' combo attack! What a spectacular picture perfect jump!"

"Well done! Oh, you are very good." Zeus said. "I'm very Impressed. But you know, you cannot win this fight simply by running away."

"Oh, I'm keenly aware of that." Adam said before he started hopping up and down. "So, how about… this." The next thing anyone knew Adam moved faster than humanly possible, thrown a punch the grazed Zeus' cheek making a small cut…in 0.01 seconds.

Zeus was in shock. "That speed. The way he just moved just now. Could he be…?"

"Oh-oh! Pretty good. No more pulling punches."

"Wait wasn't that what Zeus just said moments ago? Anne wondered.

That wasn't the only thing to repeat. Adam went with punches going faster and faster as Zeus dodged. "Here I go. Meteor Jab!"

"But that's my…" Zeus tried to say but unlike his Meteor Jab every one of Adam's hits, leaving the gods in shock.

"He's beating big old lug like a drum!" Sasha said.

"Next up is… Divine Axe!" Adam used the kick hitting Zeus right behind the knee causing him to buckle.

"Oh, dear! That looked painful." Hermes said keeping a calm face.

"It happened again. The exact same thing." Marcy gasped.

"Not bad." Zeus said, his face bloody, trying to stay standing.

"This has got to be some sort of miracle!" Heimdall shouted. "Not only has Adam dodged Zeus' attacks, he used those same attacks against him and scored a direct hit!" The humans cheered again.

"That… That was impossible!" Anjia screamed.

"That… That was amazing!" Goll said I was kind of worried about him when he showed up all naked, But he's really strong! I can't believe a human could use a god's own attack against him."

"Oh Goll, how easily we seem to forget." Brunnhilde said with a small laugh. "The birth of Adam, the father of mankind, that was the beginning."

"The beginning?" The Goll had a look of realization.

"Care to share with the frogs in class?" Ivy asked.

"'So God created man in his own image.'" Daniel said. "It's from Genesis, it's about the origins humans."

"Yes, mankind was created in the image of God." Brunnhilde said. "In other words, "Adam is a copy of the divine. And so, he is able to flawlessly replicate any technique he sees a god put to use. So if the gods try to shit on him, he can smear it on their smug faces! That is Adam's greatest power!"

Correct. And the power's name is Divine Reflection.

Sprig was feeling foolish now thinking about when he first met Anne. When he was so young, before he got used to her appearance, calling her an "ugly, ugly hero". He was surprised Anne didn't ever bring up what Daniel said whenever the townsfolk called her a monster.

"So, that's why that Valkyrie picked him!" Sashin yelled

"I am sorry sisters. I've should have realized it sooner." Marcelia said.

"Well done. Well done. I haven't had this much fun…" Zeus said as he twist head into a creepy sideways position. "…in at least ten millennia. But no more playing around." Zeus began stomping his feet in a rhythm.

"Ah, those bizarre stomping movements." Ares gasped. "If he's getting his leg limbered up, does he plan to end this with a kick?"

Zeus dashed off leaving after images. "Dodge this!" Dive Reflection activated and Adam leaned back as the kick sailed over. Adm them went into the same position Zeus was just in limbering up his legs in the same rhythm. "Oh… How did you…"

Adam then leapt up and kicked Zeus in the face sending him flying to the edge of the ring breaking the wall. "He's… He's down! Against all odds, against all logic, Zeus the almighty has been taken down!" Heimdall screamed. "Once more, Adam has perfectly replicated one of Zeus' signature attacks!"

"Shh. Who the hell does that human think he is?" Ares said. "This battle…it's like looking into a mirror and trying to fight your own reflection."

"While I wish I could see the look on Ares' face right now. I must admit he's right." Sashin muttered. "I can't believe I'm even thinking this but…I'm having a hard time thinking of a way to fight this human alone!"

"To be honest with you, I didn't want to have to resort to this." Adam said. "But this is a fight after all." Zeus got up as Adam said. "I'm sorry about this, gramps."

"Huh 'Gramps'?" Zeus asked.

As Brunhilde giggled Polly said. "Yeah, doing great Adam but please don't get cocky!"

Zeus chuckled as his body swelled with even mor muscle and turned red. "I so happy! Just so happy. So happy, I… So happy, I can't… take it anymore! Ha!"

"No matter what that guy says, he's definitely not happy!" Goll screamed. "He's so mad, it's just plain scary."

"What did I just say?!" Polly yelled.

Zeus blew steam on his hand as it began to have a golden glow. "All right. Let's see you if you can copy this one. Brace yourself!"

Ares was in shock. "Is he really…"

"So, it seems." Hermes confirmed. "And on a human no less. Our Grandfather's move.

"The titan Cronus…." Marcelia said trying to imagine what kind of move it could be.

As a young god, Zeus learned how to perform his father's final attack, making it his own. He gave this attack a name. A name imbued with the respect he felt toward his father, as well as the hatred. The attack that rules over time itself. The Fist That Surpassed Time!"

In the absolute smallest measure of time Zeus flew toward Adam with his powerful fist but as impossible as could be to believed Adam punched Zeus in the face so hard his head twisted into the opposite direction. "Now the was cool. Thanks for the attack. Goodnight gramps." Adam said.

"Huh?" Ares said and he wasn't alone. For everyone it happened fast than any could see. A literal blink and you miss it moment.

"How can this be?" Heimdall asked. "Zeus the father of the entire universe, has fallen! Laid low by the first of men!"

"Did we…" the Planters stuttered.

"…we just…" the brothers added.

"…Win!?" the six said together.

Ares slapped the railing. "I don't understand what happened. What is the meaning of the madness? I was looking right at them, but I didn't see anything."

"How interesting." Hermes said. "The human's powers are impressive. Perhaps his strength is more formidable than we initially thought."

Ares was confused.

"It went like this." Hermes positioned himself like Zeus had. "Master Zeus closed in to perform his final attack. Still Adam was undeterred. He replicated those movements at the same time. He managed to dodge the oncoming blow by a whisker. Like so. Then he threw his own punch."

"Wait a second!" Ares grabbed Hermes by the collar and lifted him up. Are you saying you're able to see everything? In spite of the fact that I, the god of war, could not perceive what you described?"

"What No. It's merely a casual hypothesis, and nothing more, dear brother." Hermes said calmy. Ares put him down feeling an unacceptable feeling of frustration that if he trained for a thousand years he would never outpace Adam. Sashin wanted to make fun except she had the same feeling too.

Adam turned to the crumpled Zeus on the ground. "You can't say I didn't warn you. I told you you'd regret this, right?"

Heimdall came running up to Zeus. "Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my goodness, folks! I can hardly believe it, but as you can see…The mighty boss god is down! Down for the count! We are witnessing the first true miracle since the birth of the cosmos!"

"How does feel Anjia?" Anne asked. "To have the greatest among your kind get a total beatdown down by a guy in nothing but a leaf?" All Anjia could do was growl.

"Well, not too bad." Aphrodite said. "The boy has some talent."

Shiva was angry. "What are you doing, old man? Quit messing around and get up!"

"Yeah! How do you like us now huh?" Lucas said.

"He's amazing." Goll gasped. "That human is way too strong. I get his special power is to mimic the god's attacks but being able to surpass them is a whole other level. Like, what is this Adam guy made of that makes him so unbreakable?"

"Didn't I tell you already? The source of that's man's strength lies in his relentless will and firm conviction." Brunnhilde explained.

"That's why he's strong?"

"Oh yes. He loathes the gods with all his heart."

"He hates them?"

"But why?" Sprig asked.

"Well…" Daniel sighed. "My knowledge of legends has been put into question but from what everyone has been told Adam and his wife Eve the first woman, were expelled from the paradise of Eden never to be allowed back in."

As if to confirm what Daniel said Heimdall proclaimed. "With this, revenge has been served. Adam had turned the pain of his exile back against the creators. He's rubbing it in their faces."

"We did lose the last fight, but now we're even again!" Goll cheered. "Ragnarök round two is a complete victory!"

"Honestly, I felt nervous when Zeus chose to barge in uninvited." Brunnhilde said. "But he was the perfect opponent. All's well that ends well. Whatever. I'm just happy the human found a strategy to hang that old geezer out to dry! It's too good! Oh no, I can't hold it in!" Brunnhilde began to laugh.

"Uh, guys. I never saw Mom laugh before. I'm kindda weird out." Lucas said.

"Us too." His brothers agreed.

"Okay, it's time to call this fight." Heimdall said. "Round two of Ragnarök winds down to an official end. And our winner is Adam the father of human…"

Heimdall didn't get to finish as Zeus got up and squeezed his head with thumb and index fingers. "Sorry I'm not done." Zeus said, his head still on backwards.

Goll along everyone was not a god was scared as Zeus made a correction. "He just twisted it back."

"That shouldn't be medically possible." Daniel gulped.

"Looks like father caught his second wind." Ares said proudly. "I knew my old man had some fight left in him."

"Yeah, yeah, daddy's boy." Sashin waved off Ares boasting.

"There's still cause for concern" Hermes said. "He took quite a beating."

Zeus panted, steam coming off him. "Come on, gramps. You shouldn't be pushing yourself this hard." Adam said.

"I understand now." Zeus replied. "I'm beginning to realize all that big talk wasn't just for show. I'm getting a better idea of what's beneath the leaf. There's still one thing that this withered noggin of mine can't make sense of. They say no one hates us more than you do. When I look at you, I don't see even a single once of resentment. So if you'd be so kind to indulge me. What's the reason you want to do you want to go toe-to-toe against the gods?"

"Everybody's always asking that question." Adam sighed. "And it seems now you are too. Is it hatred? Or revenge? Why does it matter? That's irrelevant. Is there any man alive who needs a reason…" He clenched the knuckles in his hand. "…to protect his very own children?"

Upon hearing this humanity trembled. The children of Adam, awestruck by the compassion of their father's benevolent words, felt a shiver of emotion. Without any prompt, the people began to take action. And for the first time in history, the entire human race united as one. They prayed for humanity. They prayed for victory for their father.

"Uh, it appears the mankind has spontaneously achieved consensus!" Heimdall said shocked at the state of the crowd.

Deep inside the Three Goddess Sisters Anne, Sasha, and Marcy could feel Adam's love for mankind too. Anne thought. "Dad, Mr. Wu, Mr. Waybright, I know you'll all understand. Until I we can remember you, we will see our Father." Anne thought back to one of her earliest memories. She was a small girl who picked some flowers. "Daddy! These are so pretty!"

Sasha was taken back to the swings behind her house. "Higher! Daddy! Push me Higher!"

Marcy remembered a night where she was scared but her daddy read her favorite story to comfort her. "Thank you, Daddy."

Internally the Three Goddess Sisters raged.

"Feels like it should have been me fighting out there." Shiva said jealous that Zeus took this fight from him.

"In spite of my better judgment, I believe the young man is growing on me." Aphrodite said.

"What he made us feel down there definitely wasn't a fluke." Lucas smiled.

"What a hero!" Goll cried. "That naked guy is so cool I can barely stand it!"

"It appears I underestimated the quality of his moral character." Brunnhilde said. "He really is the paragon of mankind."

"I'm so jealous of you humans right now." Sprig said to Daniel. "Think the father of frogkind feels the same way about us?"

"I'm sure he does Sprig. I'm sure he does." Daniel said.

Zeus was sweating buckets. "My you've charmed the whole arena. What an inspiring spectacle. Nice work, pretty boy."

Adam sighed. "It would have been better for you if you stayed on the ground. Careful, this next will kill you."

"I can tell you aren't bluffing by the sound of it. Though it pains me to say it, I admit you're a tough contender." Zeus placed his hands on his shoulders.

"If you want to surrender, then maybe…"

"I didn't say I was finished. I thought I could do away with you with the usual technique. But the was rather naïve of me. I didn't want to resort to this since it's so draining, but I'm left with no other choice!" It sounded like Zeus bones were cracking. "It's my only option." Zeus then began to scream in pain as seemed to fold in on himself.

"What's going on?" Heimdall asked. "Master Zeus is contorting his body. He's all flesh."

"Can't look. Don't want to puke." Ivy said.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Shiva asked.

"What is he trying to accomplish?" Huginn wondered.

"I say the so-called maker of the universe has gone senile." Muninn said.

"You two have it twisted." Twisted Thor said coming in before grabbing the ravens. "I should devour you birdbrains whole!"

"Unhand me, you maniac." Muninn demanded.

"Please, have mercy." Huginn begged.

"Didn't I warn you?" Odin asked. "Don't ever transform into my son again"

The imposter let the birds go. "Hey I was joking. There nothing wrong with a little prank." Odin was not amused. "Oh, my bad. I forgot. You don't have a sense of humor."

As the figure changed form Huginn asked. "Who are you?"

After he finished changing Loki, the Norse god of Deceit said. "I respect you too much to ever eat you precious pet birds, Uncle Odin."

Listening in the Three Goddess Sisters thought. "Loki, that prankster so annoying."

Loki took a seat next to Odin. "First time I've seen him go beast-mode in, like, a billion years. It's a bona fide spectacle on the rare occasion he does it. That human is making me turn green with envy. All of it's totally unfair."

"Huh? In what way?" Muninn asked.

"I'll say this. It's extremely difficult getting the old man to fight for real. Thinking about it makes me so jealous, I could…" Loki didn't as he couldn't help himself as his face twisted into a very creepy smile.

"He looks different. Something's happening!" Goll said. "Master Zeus, he's transforming."

As Zeus molded his body like clay Heimdall said. "What a sight. He's writhing in agony while reshaping himself" When Zeus finished a large cloud of smoke covered him. Sensing danger Adam got into a fighting stance.

As the smoke cleared Zeus now looked very skinny, his skin wrapped tight around his body. "Is that Master Zeus?" Heimdall wondered.

"Wait, what's happening? Why are my hands trembling?" Goll asked. "I can't seem to stop it. It feels so weird. Why do I… Ah!" Goll was shocked to see her big sister shaking too.

"I'm not sure either. It might be our instincts kicking in. Or something."

"Instincts?"

"It's the gut feeling you get, when you're in unspeakable danger."

"This like a video game or an anime where the big bad has super powerful final form." Tony gulped.

For the Planters growing up with all kinds of monster in Amphibia these were familiar feelings, ready to jump away. But what worried them was they never got this feeling from something at Zeus' current size and that far away.

Loki however felt fine. "Mm-hm. I've never seen anything more beautiful. The glory of grandfather's ultimate form." The form named Adamas.

"You're a freak Loki." The Three Sister thought.

They then heard Ares say. "Just feel that pressure! I've never seen him transform like that."

Then Hermes thought. "If Zeus were in top shape, he could sustain that form for 12 or 13 minutes. But with the damage he's taken, he'll barely last five."

"Don't get too rowdy, old man." Shiva said. "Heaven is breakable, you know."

Zeus leapt forward ready to strike.

Zeus' final form Adamas! Adamas' killer move allows Zeus to store up energy by compressing his muscles, then unleash a single high speed punch. The move's simplicity is what gives it its unparalleled power.

"God's True Right!" Zeus said, his voice distorted.

"Incredible!" Heimdall yelled as Divine Reflection activated. "Adam even managed to copy Zeus' mighty strength!"

Zeus was undeterred. "God's True Left!"

"Woah! Zeus doesn't miss a beat! Once more Adam returns the blow!" It sounded like Zeus' body was creaking. "Wait another right?" Adam countered again. "It just keeps going! Throwing out punch after punch! Even through Adam's flurry comes back!" The ground cracked beneath the two fighters

Goll was feeling confidante. "I'll admit this is a heck of a battle but talk about wasted effort. Adam's Divine Reflection can see through anything and everything old man Zeus tries to hit him with! Adam's got this in the bag."

However, Brunnhilde realized something. "Oh no!"

"Huh?"

"What is it, Mom?" Tony asked.

The veins around Adam's eyes swelled and his nose began to bleed. "Huh? What's this? Adam's dodged every attack, but his nose is bleeding." Heimdall said.

"Wait a minute. Why does Adam have a nosebleed?" Goll asked

"His mind and body are overheating!" Brunnhilde explained. "All this time Zeus has been throwing out different punches. So many, I didn't realize he'd started using his killer move. All those punches Adam just evaded are supposed to be impossible to dodge!"

"He's got to be in agony!"

"Since the outset of this battle, Adam hasn't stopped using Divine Reflection for a single second. Seeing through a god's attacks is devasting his nervous system!"

"Like overusing your muscles tears them apart!" Daniel thought. "I thought Divine Reflection was just some magical power he could use whenever, but it is a physical ability! I'm a medic, I should have seen this coming!"

So, if the fight keeps going like this, is Adam going to make it through?" Goll asked.

"I can't believe he found a way to beat Divine Reflection just by powering through it like a gorilla!" Brunnhilde screamed. "That stupid, fucking, knuckle dragging, over-the-hill, piece-of-shit, old bastard!"

Things were just as surprising on the gods' side. "Overheating?" both Huginn and Muninn said.

"Yep. That human isn't going to last much longer." Loki said.

"Hear that, Marcy? This whole time your new 'daddy' has been overclocking his CPU." Marcelia mentally taunted.

"Then would mean Zeus' victory in this fight is all but guaranteed!" Muninn said. "Serves you, you copycat bastard!"

"Ah, ah, ah. Don't count your chickens, bird" Loki scolded. "Take a look."

Down below Zeus' muscles decompressed for a moment bleeding before going back. "No! No, it can't be!" Huginn screamed.

"His muscles will explode into tiny pieces like birdseed." Muninn followed.

"That rush isn't going to last forever, you know." Loki began explaining. "The old man's body is at its breaking point. He's also on the edge of overheating."

"I've never seen Zeus fight for his life before." Aphrodite said. "How beautiful."

Loki snapped his fingers and two crystal goblets in the shape of Adam's and Zeus' faces appeared. "Let me explain with a little visual aid here. Which of these glasses' lifeblood will spill over first?" Loki poured to bottles of wine into the glasses to just over the top held in place only by surface tension. "It's all a matter of endurance." With each punch the two fighters threw, or punch Zeus took the wine their glass swirled over the edge but came back just before spilling. "Ooh, it's close. They're both so close to bursting open I can almost taste it. All it'll take is the tiniest little push…" Loki stuck his tongue out. "…and their glasses will overflow."

Though Loki predicted it was only a matter of time… Adam countered another Divine Axe. …even against the pressure of Zeus' onslaught of killer moves… Another round of Meteor Jabs was exchanged. Adam stood strong, unflinchingly returning the god's every attack.

After this period of time Loki said. "How lame. They're still hanging in there." But it was not the same for others.

The purity of these two warriors fighting for their live captivated the onlookers. Before anyone had realized it, the beauty of the fight inspired god and man alike to rise to their feet.

"Listen, Hermes.

"Yes. Brother Ares."

"I never knew that a mere fight could be a thing of such splendor."

"Indeed. I never knew either."

"Sis…sister" Goll sobbed. "I can't… I can't stop crying for some reason." Brunnhilde worried about Adam.

"I think I got one thing figured out." Sasha said but Sashin tried to ignore her. Why you and your sisters were happy we couldn't remember our dads' faces and why you are so annoyed Father is giving us such comfort. I know my dad and I didn't always have a good relationship, but the good times were there, and we patched things out. But's that something none of ever had, was it? We've only seen your mom and she's not what most guys would go for and I know things can be weird with you gods. You three are jealous of what I, a mere mortal took for granted and that fact alone pisses you off!"

"Not for long. When Zeus beats Adam into a red mist then it will be two dads you'll have lost today!" Sashin sneered.

"Hey! Don't you dare stop now. Don't you ever stop, you hear me?" Shiva cheered.

"Come on Adam you got to hold out!" Daniel yelled.

"Yeah! I heard Anne when she took control of Anjia!" What Sprig just said really caught Daniel interest. "Anne, Sasha, Marcy, they're still alive in there! They're you kids too right?! They need you!"

The Vahalla Arena had reached a fever pitch, but the first person to realize just how things would play out, was none other than Adam himself. Most things that happen in this world are set in motion by small events. Often much smaller than we can even imagine. Even a raging, furious storm can have its roots in the smallest, gentlest of motions.

Adam hit Zeus in the jaw, more blood spilled, and one tiny drop bounce off Adam's eye. Then he began to bleed from his eyes, nose and ears…right before Zeus finally landed a blow. "A clean hit!" Heimdall said. "Zeus' fist finally makes contact with Adam! Woah! Adam takes another hit. Zeus follows up. He unleashes a violent barrage of punches. Adam tries to block, but Zeus makes his personal punching bag!"

Goll was as shocked as everyone else. "But Brunnhilde, Adam isn't moving. He's not moving!"

"But why?" Polly screamed.

"It's likely taking everything he has just to keep blocking." Brunnhilde explained. "I doubt Adam's eyes can even see anymore."

"He's literally fight blind!" Tony growled.

"Looks like Adam was the first one to overflow after all." Loki said dipping his finger in the spilled wine and tasting it.

"There' no way he's coming back from this one" Huginn said.

"Yeah, it's all over now." Agreed Muninn. "But I sure have to give that Adam guy some credit. He was one hell of a man." Both Odin and Huginn shot the black bird a dirty look. "Uh, not that I'm rooting for him or anything."

"Hear that, Anne?" Anjia smiled. "Time for you and your friends to say goodbye to Daddy!"

Zeus landed a Dive Axe in Adam's stomach. "We can't lose again." Brunnhilde said.

The human race cried out, yet in his darkness Adam had a single thought.

"Oh, there a baby crying somewhere. There's no need to cry. Don't worry. You don't have to be afraid of those bad guys. Your Dad's going to take care of all…" Zeus landed what looked like a finishing blow but, to the very end Father was determined to win.

Adam grabbed Zeus' hair shocking the king of the gods. "Bastard."

"Now I've got you." The two began to punch each other again going faster, faster, and faster.

Loki was excited. "He let Zeus land that hit on purpose, just to grab a hold of him! This guy is nuts."

"Father's fight isn't over yet Anjia!" Anne screamed.

It looked as though their fist fight could have gone on forever. But the end…

"It appears that Zeus has collapsed to the ground!" Heimdall announced as smoke rose from Zeus, unable to hold Adamas any longer.

"Uh! Impossible!" Shiva gasped.

"This… This can't be happening." Ares said.

"No! We refuse to believe…" The Three Goddess Sister said.

"Uh, Zeus?" Heimdall asked.

"The battle is over." Zeus said exhausted.

The humans cheered. "He forced a god to give up!" Daniel said.

But when Heimdall looked over to the man standing over Zeus not moving. "He… He's dead… Somehow Adam has died on his feet!"

"Took you long enough." Zeus chuckled. "Adam breathed his last long before I fell. Even still he stayed standing. An impressive feat on its own, but that's not all he did. Even after his death, that stubborn human, he never stopped throwing punches." Zeus sighed. "Well, kiddo, looks like it's gramps' ass that hit the ground first. But what a fight. Never met a man so impressive. If this were purely a contest of endurance, victory would have been yours."

Adam's body glowed green and cracked and broke like glass along with Reginlef's turning to dust floating to Niflhemir. Heimdall made the call. "The second round of the battle between god and man, Ragnarok, has been decided! The winner is Zeus!"

Two losses in a row. The humans now face a desperate situation. But did anyone of them despair? They did not. Their father, Adam, had bestowed upon his children a vitally important precedent. Adam showed them for the first time that humanity could fight back against the gods.

Zeus vs. Adam

Time: 7 Minutes, 13 seconds

Winning Attack: Fists

Winner: Zeus

As Team Ragnarök made their way back to Brunnhilde's office Sprig had a question. "Polly how is search going? We didn't get buzzed in the fight so how much is left?"

Polly pulled out the Planter family phone. "A measly 1.02%." She moaned.

"We may never find Tempestia or that loom in time." Ivy said dejectedly.

Daniel heard his brothers talking. "First Aunt Griz and now Aunt Leif… I'm not sure Marcy could bare the fact our family is dying trying to save them." Tony said.

"I hate to say it, but it feels like we're trying to do the impossible here. Not that we're doing much now." Lucas sighed.

Daniel took his brothers aside. "No! We can't forget what Adam told us! We need to do what only we can do! You heard Sprig, right? When he talked to Anjia in Amphibia Anne took control for a moment, why can't we do the same for all of them?"

"Danny what are you saying?" Tony asked.

"We confront the Three Goddess Sisters ourselves. Sprig and Anne have a deep bond that pulled her out. Well, we agreed to share our lives together, that sounds like a strong bond to me. We might be able to get the girls to take complete control long enough for them to tell us where Tempestia is hiding. At the very least we can give them hope, let them know we still love them."

Lucas readjusted his shades. "Power of love huh? Well, there is a reason it's a cliché, and it has been way too long since I talked to my Sasha."

"You know, this is a very risky plan." Tony said. "You're talking about facing down three gods. But if we lose Ragnarök we'll be just as dead anyway so why not? I'd rather try to spend my last days with Marcy than wait and worry."

"Thanks guys. We'll find out where the sisters are staying and talk to them before the next round." Daniel said.

"Hey hurry up! Goll is leaving us behind!" Polly shouted.

Goll burst into her sister's office upset. "Brunnhilde, what happened out there? Start talking, Brunnhilde!"

"Goll, you need to calm down now." Hrist the second eldest of the Valkyries said placing he hand on her younger sister's shoulder.

"Hrist… You saw it too, didn't you? Those brass knuckles didn't even have a single scratch on them! She did her job and fought her hardest, so why did our sister Leif have to die?"

Hrist sighed as the other six came in having heard everything. "In truth, the act of Volundr merges human with Valkyrie. They become as one both body and soul. A Valkyrie doesn't merely transform into a weapon through Volundr. Her fate is bonded to her wielder's. We fight together and… we live or die together." Hrist hugged her little sister. "Please don't cry Goll. Leif was prepared for this. She knew how dangerous her battle would be. Every Valkyrie does. She did it for the humans and for those poor girls trapped inside the Goddess Sisters."

"She knew Aunt Hrist?" the brothers asked.

"Randgriz told us all what you told her before her battle. It broke our hearts to learn what happened to your loves." Hrist turned back to Goll. "A time may come when you too must prepare to follow in our footsteps and put your life on the line."

"But I never got the chance to say goodbye, to tell her I love her, do something kind for her." Goll cried.

"Goll…"

"Hrist…" The Goll felt physical pain. "That hurts, Hrist. Why are you squeezing me so…"

She looked up and Hrist had a scary look on her face. "I'll get my revenge on those piece of shit gods. Once I'm through with them, there won't be enough left to scream for mercy."

"What's happened to her?" Ivy asked.

"Right, Aunt Hrist as two powers and personalities. It's literally in her name." Daniel whispered trying not to draw Hrist's attention.

"Yeah, first is the sweet lady you saw, the trembling one." Tony explained.

"This one here we call the thundering one." Lucas said. "Let's just say as kids we were always on our best behavior when Aunt Hrist is around."

"Ah! Let's all shimmer down, Hrist. If that's okay." Goll said it was like a switch was flipped for Hrist bringing back the trembling one. Then everyone heard a squishing sound and turned to face Brunnhilde many empty plates some with to the frogs strange smelling pies right in front of her with a pitcher and glass of milk.

"Uh oh." Her sons said.

"Stupid wrinkly old bastard! Thinks he can get away with eating my apple does he?" Brunnhilde said with her mouth full.

"That not good. She's eating her gross, salty licorice pies again." Goll said. "She always starts wolfing those things down whenever she's stressed out or in a really bad mood."

"Which given our circumstances is going to be a lot." Sprig said.

"If we lose the next one, it'll be three in a row. We have to win. We have to win this next round, no matter what!" Brunnhilde thought before her phone gave tone.

Did we find it?" Sprig asked Polly.

"No, it would be a different tone and on all our phones." Polly said as Brunhilde check hers.

Brunnhilde then swept the plates and pies to the floor. "Whoa, what did you do that for Brunnhilde?" Goll asked.

"Is something the matter, sister?" Hrist added.

One look at the phone explained everything as the god fighting in round three was revealed. "Poseidon?"

"Then they intend to break our spirit as soon as possible." Hrist said.

"Wait, they're sending in Poseidon already?" Goll worried. "Why are the gods bringing out the big guns in round three? Like let us warm up before you steamroll us. Oh no, I just remembered that Poseidon's actually Zeus' older brother! I bet that guy is totally unstoppable. Hey, are you doing all right, big sister? It feels like we're done for. Also, is it just me or do think the gods are trying to end this early with a seven to zero score?"

"Goll…" Brunnhilde said sweetly putting a finger on her little sister's lips. "Could you please shut your adorable little mouth for just a second? If you don't, I'm afraid I might have to cut your cute little head clean off." She mad a slashing motion with her finger.

"Her voice is so sweet, but her words are so scary!" Goll thought. "I thought Hrist had a messed up personality but Brunnhilde is worse."

"Like Tony told Anne and the girls, Mom was more a do as I say not as I do kind of parent." Daniel told the Planters who were speechless at the display.

Brunnhilde brought up the images of her fighters. "We're at the cliff's edge, and the gods just keep pushing us back. So who? Damn it who? Is there a human in history who could stand against Poseidon, the lord of the seas?" Then someone new came in, walked up to the images and placed his hand on one. "When did he…?"

"It would be my honor." The old stranger said.