Amphibia: Record of Ragnarok

by jawmax

Anne, Sasha, and Marcy are going to marry 3 brothers who unknown to them are the sons of the Valkyrie Brunnhilde. However, forgotten evil turns the Calamity Trio into the evil Three Goddess Sisters. The brother must work with the Planters and their mother to change them back while the finale battle between god and man Ragnarok rages. (Trio x OC's)

4. Poseidon vs Kojiro

Chapter four: Poseidon vs Kojiro Sasaki

"When you say 'my honor' you mean that you're Sasaki Kojiro? For real?" Goll asked. "I mean you look totally different from your picture. Not to be rude, but you're kind of, I don't know, old and shriveled."

Kojiro looked insulted. However, Sprig thought. "If living with Hop Pop taught me one thing, it's not to underestimate my elders."

"What the heck's going on here?" Goll continued. "I thought that when a soul was summoned to Ragnarök, no matter how old that person was when they died, they would be summoned in their physical prime, not as some crusty old geezer. Isn't that how it works?"

"That is how it works. And yet this man claims to…" Brunnhilde accidently knocked the pitcher of milk over and to everyone's amazement in one fluid motion Kojiro stuck his sheathed sword through the handle and caught every drop of milk.

He brought the pitcher up to his face and began to drink. "Cow's milk was? Ah yes. Good stuff." He then saw the pies on the floor. "Mm. What is this?" he began to eat them. "Ah! Whatever it is, it's delicious."

"He's loving that crap." Goll said revolted.

"Yeah, I guess back in his time they never heard of the five second rule." Lucas gagged.

"Okay, yeah. There is no way that this old weirdo's the real Kojiro."

The old man finished. "I must say. That was a real treat."

Brunnhilde looked at the old man and thought. He's certainly not what I expected. But still, right before our eyes, he moved with the grace of a master." That when Brunnhilde realized. "The man before us is the real thing."

Kojiro smiled. "It's been 400 years since I was called up to heaven. Since then, I have tirelessly worked to hone my swordsmanship. The nature of my Ganryu has never stopped evolving. In other words, this old Kojiro is a swordsman in his prime!"

Brunnhilde turned to Hrist. "All right, sister. You ready to offer yourself?"

"Of course." Was Hrist's answer. "Come with me Kojiro. Let us prepare."

"Uh, before you go…" Sprig said.

Koojiro was surprised. "Talking kaeru? Even after all this time the afterlife still holds surprises."

"Yeah, it's a long story but…"

"We really need you win." Polly said. "Our human friends are trapped inside the Three Goddess Sisters. And if we can't save them…"

"…we can never go home." Ivy said as she began to cry. "I can never see my mom, my grandma, or any of our friends again." Ivy wiped her tears. "Look me, crying like a newborn tadpole…"

Kojiro knelt down and looked the frogs in the eyes. They felt some kind of connection. "I can sense that you three have a deep respect for nature." Kojiro said. "I learned much of my fighting style observing it. Helping you is the least I can do, you can put your trust in this old swordsman, little kaeru." He then got up and left.

"Well, I'll say this. I definitely feel better about our chances with a Japanese swordsman on our side." Tony said.

"Isn't that where all the anime and magna Marcy likes comes from?" Sprig asked.

"There's way more to the place than that. But my love of that stuff is what led me to learn about their culture and all the legendary sword masters they had as a kid."

"Wait so he's legendary? How many battles as he won? 100?"

"1000?" Ivy continued.

"10,000?" Polly added. The frogs' excitement was primed.

"Well officially…." Tony scratched his head.

"Don't beat around the bush Anthony. The number is zero." Brunnhilde said.

The Planters' jaws dropped to the floor. "SAY WHAAAAAAAT?!"

The next day…

"According to the map this where they are staying." Tony said as the Bentson brothers stood in front of the door.

"The coast is clear, so do we just knock?" Lucas asked.

Daniel reached for the door when it opened from the other side. "And after that we'll…" Anjia was saying as she and her sisters saw the men. "What are you doing here?" she growled.

"Anne…" Daniel began.

"That is not her name mortal." Marcelia said.

"What do you want?" Sashin snapped.

"We came to talk to Anne, Marcy, and Sasha." Daniel said defiantly.

"Daniel! Get away!" Anne cried out but he couldn't hear her.

"The women you want to talk to no longer exist!" Anjia held up her hand and sensed something. "Like I thought, you're not dead. You're living humans who somehow made their way here."

"That could explain how they even remember the old timeline." Marcelia said. "Like those frogs you were between words when reality changed."

"Marcy please speak to me." Tony pleaded.

"Not going to happen with any of them! Sashin said. "We saw you three earlier and who you were with. You're working with that Valkyrie bitch!"

Lucas clenched his fist but took a deep breath. "Keep you chill Luke. She may have insulted your mom, but Sasha is still in there." "Listen we just want to talk to our girls. Sasha, I miss you babe, listening to music together, riding on my motorcycle with you, hearing about your day."

Tony spoke. "Marcy please speak to me. I've been a wreck without you, we all have. I want to play the games we play, hear your jokes, sit out and watch the stars together!"

"Anne." Daniel said. "I love when you cook Thai food, how your eyes light up when you teach kids about frogs, when we play doubles, how kind and brave you are."

Sashin's hands shook. "What is happening?"

The same happened to Marcelia. "Could this be…?"

Anjia trembled. "No! Not again!"

Daniel continued. "When Sprig told us what happened we swore that we'd save you even if we had to face the gods ourselves. We are not going give up you…on us. So please, Anne, Sasha, Marcy…"

The brothers spoke as one. "…come back to me! I love you!"

Tears began to flow from the goddesses' eyes.

"Tony!" Marcy cried.

"Lucas!" Sasha wept.

"Daniel! Daniel!" Anne sobbed. The three women in control of the bodies of gods embraced their lovers.

"Shhhh. It's alright. We're here." Daniel said.

"A thousand years, a thousand years! There were times where it seemed like I would never see you again." Anne said.

"We've killed so many. So much blood…" Sasha looked away.

"We've done such terrible things." Marcy also looked away.

"That wasn't you, that was them." Lucas said.

"Yeah, you suffered just as much if not more than anyone under the sisters." Tony reassured.

"But they are us. A version of us." Anne looked to the floor. "I can feel it, we can feel it. We're fading, soon there won't be anything left of us!"

Daniel got a determined look in his eye. "No, we're going to save you. Not just us but your family from Amphibia too. We will undo what has been done to you."

"No, you will not!" the girls said their faces of sorrow twisting into rage.

"Anne? Ah!" Anjia squeezed Daniel's shoulder hard as the Three Goddess Sister lifted him and his brothers up.

"We will not be the ones who disappear."

"This isn't a game of Creature and Caverns where your Level 15 Rouge can sneak around the Fire Giant Tony!" Marcelia said.

"That was in our last session weeks ago! How did you…?" Tony wondered.

"Know?" Sashin interrupted. "Like how I know Lucas here is allergic to peanuts or that he has a tattoo on left side of his back."

Lucas gasped. "What the?"

"We know what your girlfriends know." Anjia said. "Including things that you didn't know they knew. Anne could see it in your eyes Daniel, yes even though you love her stories of Amphibia you are also jealous of your fiancée! Jealous that she had the adventure of a lifetime, and you had no part in it! That's why she always downplayed her heroics, to keep from bruising your fragile male ego! And I bet this is true of your brothers too. In the darkest depths of your souls, you three are happy to have this chance. You think this time you can be the hero?!" Anjia yelled as she threw Daniel against the wall.

"That you can be the knights in shining armor?!" Marcelia threw Tony.

"That you can prove yourselves BIG STRONG MEN?!" Shashin tossed Lucas.

The Three Goddess Sister then wiped the tear of their mortal selves off as one saying. "Tears are unfit for the face of a goddess."

"I've made my judgment." Anjia said, the three brothers were in pain looking up at the goddesses. "Anne the others must pay for daring to take control of OUR bodies! Along with your delusional crimes of challenging your gods the punishment shall be that we kill you, slowly, so that they feel all of it as your life fades and shatters to dust. They will be burdened with the guilt of killing the men they love."

"No! Not this! Anything but that! Daniel!" Anne begged.

"Not after finally seeing my Lucas again!" Sasha cried.

"Leave Tony alone! Please!" Marcy sobbed.

"Ready sisters?" Anji asked.

"This is going to fun." Sashin said as she raised her clawed gauntlet while the other readied their fists.

"Gods and Goddesses. The third round of Ragnarök will be beginning shortly. Please come to the arena so you don't miss a minute of the action!" A recording a Heimdall said.

As Sashin brought her hand down Marcelia grabbed her wrist. "Wait!"

"What?" Sashin growled.

"If we show up late and covered in blood the others will begin to ask questions."

"They're not going to care if we kill just three…"

"No Marcelia is right." Anjia said. "Mother will not tolerate bringing the plan at risk. Very well I change my judgment. We let them be tormented by their own powerlessness for now they know they can't challenge us. I know how you hate it when you can't help someone Daniel. They will be our first victims when we destroy the human race. However, if you three ever come near us again…we'll kill you on the spot. Come sisters."

As the sister walked away Daniel went right to his training. "Did they hurt you guys?"

"I knew becoming a goddess would make Marcy strong, but I didn't think she could toss me like a rag doll. My arm hurts." Tony said.

Daniel inspected the area. "Looks like a sprain. Try not to us it until we can get it treated. What about you Luke?"

"My shoulder is killing me and its hanging weird. Sashin must have dislocated it. At least I know one thing, that war goddess in not like my Sasha. Sasha is cute when she's mad, what I saw there…just scary."

"Okay going to try to pop it back in place. Brace yourself Luke, it'll hurt." Daniel pooed it back in.

"Gah! Son of a…"

"What about you Danny?" Tony asked.

"I think she cracked two maybe three of my ribs. We failed; the sisters came back almost immediately."

"Hey, hey, hey! None of that quitter talk!" Lucas said. "You're the guy who performed CPR for an hour to keep a shot cop alive when the hospital lost power! I am not going to let you give up on my girls' best friend!"

"We didn't fail Danny." Tony said. "Now we know for sure the girls are alive in there somewhere and they know we're doing what we can to save them. We gave them hope, which from the sound of it they didn't have for a long time."

Daniel sighed. "Thanks guys. I needed a kick in the butt. We better get to arena. Ow!"

Don't worry bro will help each other there." Lucas said.

"Thanks guys. Still what hurts worst is Anjia was right, about me. I was jealous of Anne and her adventures."

Some minutes later in the arena. "It's about to start. We won't make it back to Mom and the others in time." Tony moaned.

"Let just go to the stands. We'll meet up with them after the battle." Daniel said as the came out they found themselves standing next to a large muscular man with an x shaped scar on his forehead.

"I'm getting really tired of my sons disappearing before a match!" Brunnhilde fumed. "They're acting like snotty kids, not grown men!"

"I'm sure they have a good reason sis." Goll said.

They then heard three small gasps. "Look at all water. It's like the Newtopia Aquarium." Sprig said pointing out the ring was flooded with on platform in the middle.

"I've never seen water that clear before." Ivy sighed. "It really makes want to go for a swim."

"It's definitely better than a couple of day ago when that stupid hammer turned this place into an oven." Polly said pulling out the phone. "It's going to make for great footage."

The arena went dark, and the spotlight shined on Heimdall once again. "Well…welcome to round three of Ragnarok, the ultimate battle between man and maker. With mankind struggling under two losses in a row… Oh! What a shame! The blessed creators have forsaken their children to suffer this harrowing ordeal. But, hey, that's the gods for you. They do as they please, that's what defines them. So, let's bring out our next challenger. Here comes god warrior three. It's time to get wet!" The spotlight switched to an opening door the flooding waters flowed down to a blonde man holding a trident. With one stomp of his foot the waters parted as he made his way inside. "If they say Zeus is the father of the cosmos, that makes this champion the sultan of the seas, the frosty tyrant of the ocean, ruling the wave with an iron fist." Loud cheers came out of the gods' half of the arena. "Even other deities quake at the thought of provoking his wrath. Everyone fears him!" The gods went silent. "One of the three most powerful Olympian immortals, also known as Zeus Enalios, he's the king of the aquatic, the wonder of the waters… Poseidon!"

Poseidon looked around the whole arena. "Circus of filth." He muttered.

"Huh. What an awful personality." Loki said. "He's worse than you and the old man when it comes to a lack humor."

"I thank him for quilting those fools' noise." Anjia said. "He is one of the few gods to actually earn our respect."

Marcelia nodded. "Yes, sister but…" she went into a whisper. "That won't stop us from killing him. Mother will insist, you know how she hates him for sinking her beloved kingdom of Atlantis."

Sprig was confused. "Wait, he's Zeus' older brother? But he looks way younger than him!"

"Gods just don't make any sense." Ivy moaned.

"Pop quiz!" Heimdall yelled. "Brought to you by the fool who's challenging our maritime master. Representing the humans is this man, right here." Out of the opposite doors Kojiro rode out on a boat. "Who's the greatest swordsman of all time?" In the water an image of a man swinging a sword at night appeared. The image made by divine power. "Is it Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who cut down the Taira clan with his katana? Nay!" The image shifted to another samurai in a castle. "Is it Nobutsuna Kamiizumi, the Sengouku era hero who founded the Shinkage-ryu, and scared off Takeda Shingen? Nay!" The image changed to another swordsman after a battle. "Perhaps it's Takayanagi Matashiro, the silent samurai or the Bakumatsu period whose skill was utterly unmatched? Nay!" The images vanished. "Let it be known. The greatest one is none other than this underdog." The boat made it to the island. "But what makes this once defeated duelist the undisputed king? Is it his deadly finisher the Tsubame Gaeshi? Or could it be that burning vendetta against his longtime rival Musashi? Nay! Nay! Nay, I say! Some think it's prose, some think it's song, but everyone is wrong! Even in the face of defeat, he advances! Even after the throes of death, he continues to evolve as a swordsman. Even now he lives in pursuit of the perfect strike! Behold, history's greatest loser… Kojiro Sasaki!"

Most of the crowd was silent and worried. But one boy near the Bentson brothers named Iori raised his objection quite loudly. "I don't care. Whatever they say is a load of bull. How come he gets to fight for the people when my papa beat him fair and square? He's the famous swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. He's the hero who should be named the greatest of all time! And you know, he wrote The Book of Five Rings, which is practically the bible of tactical warfare."

"Jeez kid, settle down! There is a lot more at stake than you and your dad's pride." Lucas thought.

But since he didn't say it out loud, Iori continued. "Don't you all agree? I'm totally right, aren't I?" He asked a man next to him.

"Hmm. Yes, I would say that checks out." Agreed Seujuro Yoshioka, The Sword instructor for the Ashikaga Shogunate. "Your father is the only one who managed to take me down."

"Indeed." Next to him was Inshin Hozoin, spear fighter of the Hozion Style. "I would be fascinated to hear master Musashi's thoughts."

The pair and the boy looked to the scared man next to the brothers. "Wait this is Miyamoto Musashi? The famous creator of the dual sword style?" Tony gasped.

"The man you told me was the last person to fight Kojiro when he was alive. Now this is a crazy coincidence." Daniel said.

"See that, Anne?" Anjia chuckled. "Even your own people doubt their champion. After a thousand years it's you realize they can't defeat the gods. You should be grateful. We were on Amphibia for a millennium, so the gods have come to their own conclusion and would have killed you all any way. But now we are goddess and get to live forever. I don't where that guardian came up with 83 years, but it was clearly wrong. It's time you and your friends give in and let us be complete and undistracted as my sisters and I avenge your people's extinction. The only response she heard was crying.

"That's not good." Goll worried. "Humans are starting to get restless, Brunnhilde! What should we do now?"

Brunnhilde answered. "We must believe in him, and trust in his devotion to mastering the blade."

Kojiro unsheathed his sword, throwing his scabbard into the water. Then tapping the ring, the sound of the blade echoed, and the water became still. The swordsmen knew what this meant, and the gods felt something. "What in the…? What did that mortal just attempt to do?" Ares asked.

"This is quite the surprise." Hermes said.

"Eh! This should be thoroughly entertaining. Humanity still has a few tricks up its sleeves." Loki squealed.

"Woah." Daniel, Lucas, and Tony said in hushed awe.

"Hmph! What's so cool about that?" Iori asked. It's just another one of Sasaki's cheap gimmicks he's always pulling. Isn't that right Papa?" The next thing anyone knew Musahi slashed the scrolls in Iori's hands as well as his shirt. "Why did you do that? Weren't those all your sacred teachings?"

For the first time the brother heard Musahi speak. "We won't be needing them anymore, son." The Bentsons saw that Musashi and the other swordsmen were crying as though they saw the most beautiful work of art. "There it is. He's found that state of enlightenment every swordsman yearns to reach… where no man can beat him. Kojiro Sasaki is the Number One Under the Sun!"

Heimdall went back to announcing. "In this corner, the ocean god Poseidon, versus history's underdog, Kojiro Sasaki!"

THE FINAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

ROUND THREE

POSEIDON VS KOJIRO SASAKI

THE BATTLE BEGINS!

The battle began with a standoff neither fighter making a move toward their opponent. "The tension in the ring is too unbearable" Goll gulped.

"Huh." Ares mused. "A false start can leave you wide open to attack. I believe both fighters are waiting for the other to strike first."

Hermes chuckled. "Excuse me. You're sadly mistaken. Poseidon wouldn't concern himself with that. If it's within range, he'll decimate any object without a speck of hesitation. That's all there is to it."

"Shouldn't you already know that Ares? He's your uncle! What, too scared to see him fight?" Sashin taunted. Ares growled.

Kojiro began sweating thinking of what his first move should be. "Ha! He's already tired out with nothing to show for it. Man, what a joke at the end of the day, he really is a loser." Iori said.

"Kid, didn't you hear your dad earlier?" Tony said.

"Huh?"

"Look, it's obvious that you died young and that sucks. But still, if you believe your father is as great a swordsman as you say he is, and he is, then maybe you should trust his judgement on this."

"There is a lot riding on this battle so of course Kojiro is under pressure." Daniel added.

"That human is meticulous." Hermes observed. "He has attempted to engage in combat for several movements now."

"Huh?" Ares wondered.

"From inside his head. Mentally." Hermes explained. "Sorry, I thought you were following along."

"Uh, I was. Yeah, right! You meant he was brainstorming simulations. Clearly. He wasn't really attacking. So… The point is I knew that."

"No, you didn't!" Sashin yelled again. "And you call yourself a war god?"

Back at the battle Kojiro went through another plan. "Well, that won't work."

The standoff had just begun but no one knew that he had been slaughtered 18 times.

"What a pain. No matter how you slice it. I'm bound to be gored like a fish."

"That blondie, he's not one to mess with." Yoshioka said.

"Yes. I wonder if we stand a chance." Hozion agreed.

"Ah, I guess Kojiro's officially backed into a corner." Goll said. "I think I'm beginning to see why they call Poseidon the most fearsome of the 12 Olympian gods."

But Brunnhilde knew better. "That numbers wrong. There's one more. Goll, listen carefully, there's something important you should know."

"Uh, what's the matter?"

"A long time ago, when the gods were much younger, just as there were 13 Valkyries, there were 13 Olympians."

"What do you mean? I don't remember hearing about that."

One of the deities amongst their ranks was murdered… by one of their own. The killer was Poseidon himself."

"What?!" Sprig yelled. "And he wasn't jailed or something for it?"

"Betrayed by a god." Goll gasped. "That's horrible. Wait I have so many questions. Tell me who the victim was."

"The unfortunate Olympian… was Adamas." Brunnhilde said.

"I've heard that name. I thought that was supposed to be the name of Zeus' final form."

"It is. But it is also the name of an heir who inherited the bloodline of the almighty Cronus. A birthright he shared with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon. Adamas, dark lord of conquest."

Brunnhilde told the story of Adamas' attempted rebellion. "So that's why you said he murdered. It wasn't even a fight and that's also why Poseidon was never punished." Polly said.

Ares and Hermes listened in hearing Adamas' name from afar with their goldy hearing. "You know, that does ring a bell. The shock of Adamas' attempted insurrection." Ares said. "I remember. There was a rumor back then about how we had a dirty traitor hiding among the 12 of us, wasn't there?"

"Oh, the rotten scoundrel was me." Hermes admitted.

Ares was shocked. "So, it was you! You betrayed us? The fallout from the ensuing war would have torn the heaven apart."

"Which is why I found the prospect too exciting to resist. When I told Master Zeus of Adamas' plane he said "Sounds amazing! A great idea! A great big, bloody war! Can't wait to get my muscles dirty" Master Zeus was positively beside himself with elation."

"Gimme a break. All these years and I never knew."

"Are you kidding me?!" Sashin screamed. "What kind of war god would want to avoid a war? You're a disgrace to the title!"

"Screeching Harpy!" Ares yelled.

"Overgrown Pansy!"

"Sashin enough!" Anjia said.

"Fine." Sashin pouted.

Ares sighed. "Still, Adamas was a fighter, and to think he was killed in one fell swoop. You'd have to be a warlord yourself."

"Actually, Poseidon's precision for bloodshed is hardly his most horrifying quality." Hermes said. "You see as soon as Poseidon decreed that Adamas never existed, it became canonized as an undeniable reality. Whatever he says become the truth. None are granted are room to object. In my humble opinion, that's what's scary."

"Hmm sounds right. That's what makes him the force of nature that he is. A paragon. A king of a divine being."

With Poseidon still not moving Kojiro said. "I get the feeling I'm not enough of a threat for you. So, how do you suggest we speed this along?" To the surprise of most Kojiro sat down. "This is a tough situation. But I'm not dying today. But I suppose, for a battle like this one, 'I surrender' won't cut it." Kojiro then went into a bow. "I implore you. Grant this old fool a match." As he got up, he thought. "All right, you're in it now, Kojiro. This is one battle you can't run away from. For all the pioneers who paved my path to strength. For all creation, which nourished me and became my flesh and blood." Kojiro saw the Planters in the stands. "For those who are hoping for a path forward. I need to stand… with my head held high." Kojiro lifted his sword making a gust of wind. "Here I come."

Kojiro's Sasaki's first move was a technique all his own. He swung his famed three-foot-long Bizen Nagamitsu, a long sword also known as the drying pole, down from above with all his might, in a single, devastating slash.

Poseidon sidestepped the swing.

Th drying pole possessed a weight of 1.5 time the average katana. After a slash of that strength, physics dictates that halting its downward acceleration should be nigh impossible. And yet…

Then the sea god readied a counter.

Kojiro Sasaki's series of defeats had given rise to an attack that defied such petty constraints. A swift strike… like an arrow racing toward its target and changing its course mid-flight.

Kojiro flipped his sword and swung straight back up.

His signature move. Tsubame Gaeshi!

Poseidon learn back just in time, the blade merely cutting his bangs.

"Did you see that?" Goll said happy with the near hit.

"He was so close to finishing it in one move!" Tony yelled.

"He's quick." Ares observed. "He moved before Poseidon had a chance to skewer him."

"Pretty virile for an old man." Aphrodite said.

"Huh? This is quite a surprise." Hermes noticed something. "I never thought I'd see the great Poseidon looking a human in the eye."

"So you meet my gaze at last, huh, kiddo?" Kojiro said.

Musashi groaned touching his scar. "You okay, Papa?"

"I'm a medic, I can help." Daniel said.

"Sasaki!" Musashi said before turning to Daniel. "It's nothing, just memories." He then looked back at the ring. "Yes. Really brings back some good memories, Sasaki. Listen up sea god. Even if you are divine, you better not approach this man unguarded."

The as one the swordsmen in that section said. "Curse your luck, for today you test your skill against the man we call Number One Under the Sun."

At the same time Goll thought. "We can do this We can really do this. Come on, Hrist. You've got this. Let's win one for the humans!"

Kojiro looked at his sword. "Huh the weight of it, the blade, not a single fault to speak of. This trusty drying pole of mine, I can't imagine a weapon more perfectly suited to my style."

Poseidon without a word began to walk toward Kojiro. "What's going on?" Heimdall asked. "I don't believe my eyes. The god among gods, Poseidon himself, is advancing upon his opponent."

"Now you've done it you ignorant old man." Marcelia said. "To catch Poseidon's wrath is to seal your own doom."

Poseidon raised his trident and unleashed a series of strikes called Amphitite. Heimdall commentated. "Poseidon's jabs are as relentless as the raging tides, but Kojiro deftly weaves through the onslaught! Kojiro cannot be touched!"

Amazing!" Goll said. "Poseidon's triident's so fast but Kojiro can see through every move. Does that mean his eye are just as good as Adam's were?"

Brunnhilde answered. "It's not that he can see the moves, he can dodge them because he's already experienced them."

"Wait, what do you mean? They haven't fought before, have they? How has he experienced anything?"

"He can experience a battle before he's even drawn his sword, you see?"

"Uh…"

"No not a clue." Sprig said.

Brunnhilde explained. "After challenging countless powerful opponents, and suffering defeat after defeat after defeat, Kojiro Sasaki would continue fighting his foes within his head. Since the moment Poseidon entered the arena, Kojiro has been analyzing him, making note of the most seemingly insignificant details. His gait, his breathing, even the way he blinks. All this information allows him to form an image of Poseidon in his mind. He then takes that image, and then challenges it an endless number of times, simulating over a 1000 different attack, 1000 different outcomes. All in advance."

"Wait he did already?" Goll said surprised. "They only looked at each other for, like, a sec."

"Yes. If Adam can lay claim to having the fastest counterattacks, Kojiro has the fastest prediction. No matter how fast the opponent strikes, no matter how many times they cut him down, Kojiro can simulate their attack and evade it. He can predict any move his opponent might make. That is Kojiro Sasaki's thousand-fold defense. Senju Musou."

"Senju Musou…" Sprig gasped.

The tide of jabs continued as Kojiro thought. "I know that one. And that one. That one too. And this one. I know'em all!"

The humans cheered not one blow was struck on the swordsmen.

"Does this mean he's able to predict even a god's moves?" Ares asked. "We're supposed to be unknowable."

"Yes, that certainly seems to be the case." Herms said.

"Then that means there has to be something wrong with all of the people here. These humans that push themselves to the heights of perfection. Why are they all so… So impossibly…?"

Loki put his own spin on Ares thought. "Why are they so impossibly unbelievably exciting?"

"Exciting? They are defiant beasts because all of you took your hands off the reigns." Anjia whispered. "A problem my sisters and I do not share with the other gods."

Then a melody was heard in the air. "He's whistling?" Kojiro thought.

"Well, this should be quite interesting." Hermes said.

Kojiro studied Poseidon. "What's his next move? He made his prediction. "That one!" Poseiden came in with a single rapid thrust. "He's faster than I predicted! Not good!"

Poseidon's trident cut into Kojiro's side. "Something wrong?" Poseidon asked.

At long last, the god broke his silence to the human.

"You were supposed to be reading my moves, were you not? Worthless clown."

"Ouch! It's happened. First blood is drawn." Heimdall announced. "Poseidon has wounded Kojiro with his trident! The biggest loser in history is living up to his namesake. The big fish has been reduced to a small fry before the frosty tyrant of the ocean."

"You got to be kidding me." Kojiro thought. "I knew this fight would be a though battle, but I didn't think I'd get hurt this quickly. Such ferocity. So, this is the power of the gods."

"The almighties are getting loud!" Heimdall said. "Their encouragement vibrates through the arena!"

The god grew louder and louder until Poseidon silenced them with a single glance. "Thank you, Poseidon." Marcelia said quietly. "All that noise was giving me a headache and made it hard to think."

"His aura is so intimidating!" Goll squeaked. "I'm shaking in my boots right now." Even Brunnhilde sweated at the thought.

"Man, that's a world class buzz kill." Lucas said.

"Huh. Bunch of shit stains." Poseidon said still looking at the crowd.

"My, aren't you a feisty one." Kojiro said. "Your comrades are cheering for you. At least show some gratitude."

"I don't see a point in that." Poseidon answered. "A god needs no armies, nor to resort to betrayal, for a god is complete. That is how it has always been. We have embodied perfection since the beginning of time. Why show thanks for the irrelevant?"

"Well said. What every god should strive to be." Anjia said. "That is why we are better than you Anne. You three are so proud of how you changed and grew on your adventure, but we never needed to change or grow. You saved a fracturing friendship while we always had a perfect bond as sisters. While I don't need anyone, Sashin, Marcelia, I would never want to be without you." Anjia reach out and held her sisters' hands.

"We feel the same way Anjia." Sashin and Marcelia said together.

"Is that how you operate?" Kojiro asked. "How peculiar. Huh. Don't mean to be rude but is seems pretty depressing."

Poseidon disgust with the old man reached a tipping point as he leapt into the air. "Away with you." The pairs weapons clashed but Poseidon's strike grew faster. "Chione Tyro Demeter!"

"Woah, he's bearing down like lightning from the sky!" Heimdall exclaimed. "There's no doubt he'll stop at nothing to deliver the killing blow!"

"Kojiro! Hang in there! Ivy yelled.

"What a mesmerizing display of his agility." Ares said. "His speed is a genuine wonder to behold."

"As impressive as his pace is, the human can still dodge his attacks." Hermes observed. "The sole reason he evaded anything thus far is because Poseidon's only used an inkling of his total strength. When it comes to the full depths of his prowess, not even the gods can fathom such a force. For that matter, neither can a human."

"Not without an edge." Sashin thought. "With our godly power combined with the calamity stones the three of us together will be more than a match for any god."

"Hey, gramps, come on, don't lose out on us!" Goll shouted. "Because you have to win this battle for Hrist, okay?"

"We can't lose three in a row." Daniel thought. "We can't let this challenge take more from our family. Not only that but Anne said they're fading. I don't how much more she, Marcy, and Sasha can take! The girls need hope so they can hold on! Please give them that hope Kojiro!"

With each assault, his game sense evolves.

"I know this." Kojiro blocked an attack. "This too. I read these move just a few seconds ago."

The technique… Senju Musou!

"It's that same strategy." Ares noted. "He's predicting Poseidon's moves at every opportunity. This is crossing the line."

"It's almost he can infiltrate the mind." Aphrodite mused. "I'm curious, how deeply can he penetrate? Fascinating creature."

Kojiro's swordsmanship was supernatural. Crossing the threshold… into the realm of the gods.

"Where's he going next? Over there." Kojiro anticipated.

However, there was one obstacle…

The swordsman swung but found he only hit air.

…His opponent was Poseidon.

Poseidon struck the drying pole from behind. "A fake-out. He ambushed me from my blind spot."

"Urg! He's slipperier than we are!" Polly fumed.

Poseidon unleashed another flurry from above and Kojiro worried. "The more I try to chase after him, the father I get pushed away at the last second. Into… the water. Damn. I'm drowning. Still… I refuse to go under! There he is." Kojiro in a few quick movements got into striking range. Poseidon leaned back dodging the blade. "Oh yeah?" The old swordsman changed his grip. "I've got you. Ganryu Hiou… Toraki!"

However, the next thing he knew Poseidon was behind him. As Kojiro turned for another swing the sea god brought his trident down like a hammer snapping the longsword in two. "Let's not get carried away. Little fish." Poseidon said as the blade tip fell to floor.

"Nooooo!" The Bentson brothers yelled.

"What did you do to Hrist, you monster?" Goll cried.

"A sudden critical turn of events." Heimdall said. "Kojiro's trusty Bizen Nagamitsu has been shattered into pieces!"

"The old man's done." Ares said.

"See that girls?' the Three Goddess Sisters whispered. "No matter how hard your kind pushes, no matter how much you grow we gods are always superior. It's time to stop fighting us and surrender."

The match was over. The crowd went silent. With the divine weapon rendered unusable, Kojiro's loss was practically ensured.

"Fine. I surrender." Kojiro said. "Damn. If only I could say that now." Kojiro looked at his broken sword. "But it's too bad. I'm not giving up today." He turned it and in its reflection saw Musashi in the stands behind him. "This reminds me of old times. Don't you agree, Musashi?" He thought back to their duel, where he had died. "What a fight. Right, Musashi?" Kojiro turned around still bleeding. As he did Kojiro briefly saw into the Three Goddess Sisters eyes and saw the smallest shadow of sorrow. "Hey, listen up, you ocean tyrant. You mind if I ask you something? Tell me… have you ever lost yourself to the swing of the blade at night, training until the sunrise? Or burst into tears of solemn gratitude, for someone who made you stronger than you were before? In the heat of battle, have you ever admired your foe so much, you'd die for them?" Kojiro stopped at broken blade of his sword. "Hmm. You know what? No. My apologies." He picked up the blade. "You haven't gone through any of that." Kojiro then lifted up the broken pieces. "Look at this blade. See how it shines? It stands for countless hopes and dream of all the fools who wield it." Anne, Sasha, briefly saw the ones who taught them to fight, Tritonio, Grime, and Yunan. Kojiiro squeezed the broke blade cutting his hand and the Three Goddess Sisters felt like what the mortal said next was directed at them as well as Poseidon. "All the time that you've been alive, I bet you've never stood for a single thing. How unjust. I won't lose to a selfish bastard like you!" That was when Kojiro's broken sword shined green.

"Wait, what's happening?" Heimdall yelled. "The broken shards of Kojiro's weapon are glowing brightly in his hands!"

Iori shielded his eyes. "Ah, it's so shiny!"

Musashi was amazed. "But how is he…? I can't believe it.

"What Papa?"

"He's…he's doing it. Incredible." Musashi cried at the beauty of what his friend and rival was doing. "Sasaki!"

"Aunt Hrist?" Daniel said in a shocked whisper. It was true, above the shard two version of Hrist floated above.

"Of course!" Tony gasped. "Aunt Hrist has two personalities…"

"…and two powers! Right on!" Lucas finished.

Both Hrists cried out. "Re-Volundr!" Now in Kojiro's hands were regular length katana and a kodachi.

"Incredible! The blade fragments have become two separate swords!" Heimdall said.

Kojiro was ready for more. "Hm. Here we go."

"Thank goodness, sister Hrist is alive. It's a miracle." Goll cried tears of relief. "I seriously thought she was a goner back there. What a relief. But how? The weapon was restored even after it was broke."

"That's Hrist for you." Brunnhilde said. "It's the power bestowed unto her name, which has two meanings remember? The 'trembling one' and the 'thundering one' as the only Valkyrie with dual personalities, our sister is unequaled."

"Wow you totally saw this coming, didn't you? That's must have been why you paired her with Kojiro when you were planning everything out!"

Brunhilde couldn't contain her excitement. "Luck. Yes!"

"You had no idea she would do that didn't you?" Ivy moaned.

"Hope they're ready! Let's go."

"She's a little too excited. I don't feel safe." Sprig said.

"Go, Kojiro Saski! Ha! I choose you!"

"I forget since she looks so young." Polly moaned. "But she's thousands of years old, and it's always sad when old people try to be "hip with the kids."

Sashin growled. "What kind cheap crap is this? Those Valkyies…"

"No." each sister heard.

"What?"

"The answer is no!" Anne yelled. "For a thousand years you done everything you could to make feel powerless. To make us forget…"

"…what we were taught to survive…" Sasha said.

"…and despite the odds we all made it home." Marcy finished.

"And we'll find a way back to our loved ones. The answer will always be no! We won't give up!" They said as one even if they couldn't hear each other.

Kijiro laughed. Sorry, our quarrel's not over. "How about we put our hearts into this? Show me what you're made of."

"You lowly worm." Was Poseidon's only response.

In one breath they were at it again. Poseidon attacking and Kojiro blocking. But in the fray Iori thought he saw something. "Papa?" He rubbed his eyes. It's only Kojiro, but still, he looked just like Papa for some reason." "Why though? He asked. "Those are your movements he's using out there, aren't they? So how does he know them?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Musashi said.

"Explain for those of us who aren't trained swordsmen." Lucas asked.

"He must have kept fighting me in the afterlife, at least a few thousand times. No, tens of thousands of times. Challenging me again and again till he got his fill. Burning everything he learned into his body."

Wait, I don't get it." Iori said. "Even if he's trained himself to imitate your attacks properly, is that gonna to give him enough of an advantage to defeat the gods?"

"He's doing much more than swinging a couple of weapons. Pay attention Iori. You three too." Musashi pointed out techniques as Kojiro used them. "Master Toda's kodachi. Shinkage Yagyu footwork, flowing fluidly as water. The brute force of Itto-ryu. Take it in, the dynamic style of Sword Saint Nobutsuna Kamiizumi!"

And finally, Kojiro was able to make a cut and the gods noticed. "Golly, I love it." Aphrodite swooned.

"He drew blood?" Huginn gasped.

"You're kidding me! Muninn screamed.

"My, my!" Loki cheered.

Marcelia was drawing equations again. "Take in all possible masters in his lifetime…applying variations on the styles of each… carry the four…no!" She slammed her fist into her chair. There are too many variables! Too many!"

"This is a greatest hits list of sword techniques!" Tony said.

"It like you guys are in there fighting alongside Kojiro!" Daniel pumped his fist.

Several more cuts were made. Poseidon made another strong thrust of his trident, but Kojiro used both swords to block it. "There it is!" Musashi exclaimed. "Niten Ichi-ryu! He isn't knocking us off, son. It is the essence of our legacies that live on within him. After years of discipline, generations of master swordsmen now bear witness as he pierces the heavens. The Niten Ganryu of Kojiro Saski! The true Number One Under the Sun."

Heimdall was shocked. "Oh dear, I've never seen anything like this. Master Poseidon, that's right, the fearsome frosty tyrant of the ocean himself, is bleeding like a raw steak!"

Poseidon however began to whistle again, stick his fingers in his own blood and used it to slick back his hair. "Hm. Think you can predict my every move, do you? You should know your place."

Just when humanity allowed themselves to believe that they were on the verge of winning, the gods responded…by tearing apart the hopes and dream of mankind.

"So fast! I hardly saw him move." Heimdall exclaimed. "Poseidon's trident tastes blood again."

Poseidon's counter to Kojiro's Hiten Ninten Ganryu was simple and vicious. Turn the battle into a test of strength.

Poseidon attacked again "Not good! Even when I can predict his attack, I can't touch him." Kojiro thought.

"Yes, now it gets good and bloody. I love blood, the color, the smell…" Sashin grinned.

Poseidon prepared his strongest attack. "Medusa Alope Demeter!" For Kojiro it was like Poseidon was all around him, but what others saw…

"Ladies and gentlegods, there it is! Heimdall yelled. "Strikes as relentless as the storm that swallowed up the world in the time of Noah! The tide has truly turned."

Ares gasped. "The speed of Poseidon's attacks is unbelievable. I can only see their afterimages forming a dome."

"Yes." Hermes said. "And within that dome Poseidon's whipping up a turbulent storm of trident strikes. How delightful this is. Truly."

"No! I can't see anything in that dome!" Polly yelled.

"Is Kojiro okay?" Ivy asked.

At that moment Kojiro thought. "Come on. You're kidding me. Just when I thought that I had finally made it to the bottom. Turns out there's deeper to go yet. This isn't looking good. Is this really it? Well… I'm used to losing anyway. It's the same as ever." But then Kojiro heard someone calling out his name. "This is…"

As Kojiro defended himself he looked behind him and saw the swordsmen swinging imaginary swords in support joined by the three brothers. "Ah! I know you can win Kojiro Saski!" Iori yelled.

"Our hearts and blades are one with yours! Use it to strike him down!" Musashi cried.

"Kojiro! Show Anne and her friends there is still hope!" Daniel pleaded.

Seeing the display Sprig looked at the section with his telescope. "The guys are there!" he then begun swing the telescope like a sword to show his support.

"Well, at least we know they're okay." Brunnhilde thought.

"Now those brothers are making themselves look ridiculous." Anjia said.

"No, Anjia." Anne argued. They are showing their faith. You have my memories; you know how powerful that is."

"Those damn fools…" Kojiro thought. "There right! It is the same as ever. My path to victory always begins with defeat. Once… Just one time. I…" Kojiro halted the sea god's onslaught. "I really want… to claim my first victory!"

And so, it was at that moment, that the blade tip of humanity reached the bottom of the deep ocean abyss. His foe's tiniest movements, the quivering of the air, the trembling of the ground, he could predict it all. It was as if all of creation was speaking to Kojiro, telling him what the god's next move would be. Manju Musou!

Once again, the battle shifted to Heimdall's surprise. "What the…? Kojiro injured, but he's dodging all of Poseidon's attacks with ease!"

"That human is… How can he evade those attacks?" Ares asked. "Poseidon should be too fast. How many thousands… Tens of thousands… Millions of moves ahead can he see?"

"A human brain couldn't possibly process that kind of information!" Marcelia raged.

"I finally…" Kojiro gasped for air. "…made it this close to you, god."

Sasaki! Do it!" Musashi screamed.

So, Kojiro Sasaki used the attack called Soen Zanko Banjin Ryoran. First, he cut off Poseidon's right hand along with his trident. The god grabbed the piece with the blade crushing his former hand trying to gore the swordsman. But Kojiro severed Poseidon's left arm. Refusing to quit against what he saw as a lesser being the ocean tyrant took what was left of his trident in his mouth and charged. Kojiro used both his swords slashing right through Poseidon's chest just before the god said his final words. "Ugh… Y… You… little fish." His body fell apart, a bloody mess.

"You know something? I could really get used to this winning thing." He said with a smile.

Shocked Heimdall had no choice but to call it. "And with that, it seems the winner of round three of Ragnarök, the final battle between god and man, has been decided! Representing the humans, Kojiro Sasaki!"

The human race cheered.

Poseidon vs. Kojiro Sasaki

Time: 13 minutes, 7 seconds

Winning Attack: Soen Zanko Banjin Ryoran

Winner: Kijiro Sasaki

Mankind had felled a god. Confronted with a reality that should not be… the gods only responded with silence.

As Poseidon's soul shattered and drifted away Sprig had only one thing to say. "It's…over…"

"Who could have predicted an outcome like this?" Heimadll asked. "Finally, deep into the third round, humanity snatches victory from the hands of the gods!"

"We…We did it!" Goll cheered. "We were able to actually beat the gods!"

Kojiro turned and bowed to his fellow swordsmen as the crowed burst into cheering his name. "They're quite loud, aren't they? It's the first time I've ever won. At least give me a second to enjoy the moment, will you?"

Brunnhilde looked toward the gods and thought. "You see now, gods? Open your eyes. Witness what mankind is capable of!"

"There's no way!" Huginn yelled.

"Did humanity really defeat the…" Muninn didn't get to finish as Odin in his anger crushed his stone armrest.

"Are you kidding me?" Loki said like he was having a panic attack. "For real?" He then got a serious look on his face. "This joke of theirs just stopped being funny."

Below them the Three Sisters were also in shock. "It makes no sense! There is no logical way he could have pulled it off!" Marcelia hissed.

"It makes perfect sense Marcelia. You just don't want to believe it!" Marcy said.

"Those cheaters!" Sashin growled. "That Valkyrie becoming two weapons, it's a cheat!"

"Upset that things didn't go your way? Poor baby." Sasha mocked.

"Looks like humans aren't as powerless as you thought Anjia!" Anne said. "It's only a matter of time before Daniel, Sprig and the others put an end to your mother's plan and get us out of here!"

"No, Anne. It's time to remind you that I can do more than just make see and feel what I do!" Anjia snapped causing Anne pain. "You think you and them have seen the power of the gods? They haven't seen anything yet."

The door open and a bridge appeared for Kojiro. "So, I gotta walk back? Beats having to row a boat, I guess. But I have to admit. All that fighting made so tired."

Before Kijiro fell over in exhaustion the blades disappeared and Hrist caught him. "Kojiro, stay with me. Please tell me you're all right."

"I'm just fine. All thanks to you, my lady. Sorry I had to put through all that nonsense there."

"Hrist I'm so glad that you're okay!" Goll shouted.

"Of course I'm okay, you noisy little brat!" the thundering one said.

"Yep, she fine." Lucas sighed. "Let get back with the others."

"Huh, what'd I tell you Goll? I promised we'd get our revenge on those bastards."

"That's right." Goll said who then thought. "What a relief. The battle didn't change Hrist one bit. I'm so glad she's safe." She then turned to Brunnhilde. "So now, humanity's shown the gods they're worthy of survival, right?"

The Planters briefly had a look relief before Brunnhilde said. "No. We still have six victories to claim."

"I really hope we're able to win this." Goll then thought. "You intend to defeat the gods, don't you, Brunnhilde?"

"Hey guys!" Tony yelled.

"Where have you three been?" Brunnhilde asked.

"We did it! We got our first win!" Ivy said, she tried to shake Tony's hand, but he pulled back wincing in pain.

"Careful! Tony has a sprained wrist." Daniel said.

"Yeah, one of the little souvenirs from our chat with the Three Goddess Sisters." Lucas moaned rubbing his shoulder.

"Oh no! I'll get some heavenly first aid! We patch you right up!" Goll said running off.

"You went to talk to the Sisters?!" Brunnhilde yelled. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?! Of all the stupid fucking moronic things to do!"

"We don't care Mom!" Daniel yelled. "Do you just expect us to stand by and do nothing while our future wives suffer?"

"If Tempesptia finds out we're looking for her…"

"We didn't mention her or the loom Mom." Tony said.

"Yeah, it's cool." Lucas added.

"And Sprig, you were right, their still alive. It wasn't for long, but we to spoke Anne. Sasha and Marcy too."

"That wonderful!" Polly said as her brother teared up.

"Yes, this is good news however…" Brunnhilde said. "Now is not the time to rest on our laurels. I need to make preparations for round four, but I will talk to you boys about this stunt you pulled later!"

With that Brunnhilde walked away as Goll came back. "Uh sis?"

"It's okay Aunt Goll." Daniel said. "More of the same. But Sprig can I ask you something?"

"Sure what?" Sprig asked.

Daniel took a breath as Goll got to work. "When Anne first told me about Amphibia it was the most exciting thing I ever heard. I felt like a kid again reading stories of heros, gods, and monsters. But part of me was also jealous, I'm the son of a Valkyrie and before this the closest I ever got to adventure like that was sneaking around here. Would you believe that until we met you the three of us only seen a god once?"

"I remember that day." Goll said. "You're all lucky he didn't see you. Brunnhilde and I were scared to death."

"The point is I think Anne saw that part of me. After first time she focused more how your home helped grow up. The lessons she learned there. Like I find it hard to believe she actually kept pimples on her face just to be popular in Wartwood."

"Oh, that happened." Polly said.

"Anyway, I think she wanted to spare my feelings, but I need to know more about the woman I'm going to marry. So, Sprig will you tell me your side of the story? What was Anne like back then?"

Sprig smiled. "Sure. It would my pleasure. It was just a normal day, Hop Pop was going to do some shopping but because he didn't think I was responsible enough, which I wasn't back then, he left Polly in charge while left us in the cart and she was just a tadpole back then. But then I heard One Eyed Wally talking about a beast in the woods…"

A short time later back in Wartwood Hopediah looked around before entering Felicia's Tea Shoppe. "Hopediah Planter! How wonderful to see you this day!" Felicia greeted.

"Hello Felicia. Might we and Sylvia speak in private?" Hop Pop asked.

"Uh, okay."

They sat in the kitchen as Felicia poured the old man some tea. "What is this about Hopediah?" Sylvia asked. "Are you doing okay? After what we all saw… a god killed! Well, everyone is shaken up, I've never seen father Toadstool cry like that."

Hop Pop looked at Sylvia for a moment and thought about how he never had the courage to court her but shook his thoughts away. Their grandchildren were married so they'e family. That was enough, and that was why he was here. "Actually, I came to ask if Ivy seemed strange to the two of you before she disappeared."

Both women got a sad look on their faces. "Well, no except for what she was wearing that day in Temple, but then again we haven't seen much of her since the wedding, and she moved in with your family." Felicia said. "Did you see something?"

Hop Pop sighed. "I wasn't just their cloths that was different. I've been stewing over this for more than a week, but they acted so strange! They vanished for the whole morning, they come back in strange clothes, in Temple they were restless, sweet and quite Poly was so irreverent, Ivy and Sprig were questioning everything! And then I hear from Loggle that he saw them run into the Holy Palace before it vanished!"

"While the last part is concerning Sprig and Ivy are young newlyweds and Poly is fourteen now." Sylvia said. "It makes sense they're a little restless. That's what being young is. But we raised them to be faithful servants of the gods."

"I'm not so sure. I saw Sprig in the crowd during the battle today!"

"Why that's wonderful news Hopediah!" Felicia said. "They in the presence of the gods watching them do their good work! They are truly blessed!"

"Except…he how doing the same cheer the humans were doing! He was siding with the gods' enemies! And Polly and Ivy were right there with him!" Hop Pop through his cup against the wall.

"But that is heresy!" Felicia almost fainted.

"That can't be right. The gods brought them along. Holy Anjia would have judged them beforehand." Sylvia said confused.

"I don't know what to think." Hop Pop moaned. "My grandchildren…"

Felicia offered her hand. "Then pray with use Hopediah. If the children have gone astray, then we pray the gods will lead them back on the path."

In the chamber of the Three Goddess Sisters, they were discussing what they just saw. "It's just… I can't believe it. A mortal slew a god!" Anjia said.

"And Poseidon no less. A god most other gods fear!" Sashin said in the next room soaking her stress away in a bathtub filled with blood.

"Mother, what does this mean for plan?" Marcelia asked.

The sisters were surprised to hear Tempstia laugh. "I never heard that before." Anjia thought. "Mother?"

"For once Anjia, we're both scared of the same thing." Anne said.

"Serves that pompous waterlogged bastard right!" Tempestia said. "That's what he gets for sinking MY kingdom! And best of all, I now realize this whole Ragnarok business is actually good for the plan."

"Uh how?" Sashin asked licking some blood off her finger.

"Poseidon was one of the few that might have been a problem if he worked with the others but now, he's gone. Also knowing about a god's abilities is one thing, experiencing them another."

"That's right. We now have firsthand data on what Thor and Zeus are capable of." Marcelia said. "These fights will give us information on some our most dangerous targets."

"And if the humans do kill more of them then that is fine too. One less problem for us to deal with." Anjia added.

"A win-win for us. And even if the by some impossible chance humanity actually succeeds well…" Tempestia giggled. "You three maybe on the council but we are not bound by their laws. We'll kill the gods and with no Valkyries to give them Divine Treasures we'll wipe mankind off the…"

Then there was a knock at the door. "Sorry Mother, we need to hang up." Anjia swiped her hand closing the portal.

The door opened and Hermes and Ares stepped in. "Our apologies my ladies, but Master Zeus requests your presence." Hermes said with a bow.

"Yes, so if you'll come with us…." Ares said.

Anjia and Marcelia held up their arms blocking the view into the bathroom. "Our sister is in the bath!" Marcelia snapped.

"I'm already toweling off." Sahsin said snapping her finger and making her armor appear on her body.

Ares saw the tub as she stepped out, bloody footprints on the floor. "Ah! It's true! You take literal blood baths!"

"Oh, come on! In all your time as a war god you had to have seen much worse! Man up Ares!" Sahin taunted poking Ares in the chest.

Ares growled but then cleared his throat. "Right. Well come along. You don't want to keep my father waiting."

Shortly after the sisters were in Zeus' chambers along with Loki and Shiva. A bandaged Zeus took a sip of tea and asked. "No then, what's with all those long faces around here?" Shiva pounded his fist into the table send the teacup flying Zeus catching it. "Ah! Oh my."

"Don't you even dare play dumb with me, old man." Shiva shouted.

"Excuse me?"

"Your big brother Poseidon just got filleted." Loki said. "But you look pretty chill. Ah, then again, since the last time I saw you, it's like you aged a couple million years."

"Yes, shouldn't you be more upset about this?" Marcelia asked. She knew if that happened to one of her sisters, she'd tear the earth apart and her sisters would do the same.

"Well, the human was quite simply a better fighter than old Poseidon." Zeus responded. "That's all there is to it. And besides, you were there watching the match yourselves, weren't you? So I don't need to tell any of you what these battles are all about." A silence hung in the room. "We might as well just admit it, these humans are actually quite powerful indeed. It seems that little Valkyrie girl truly intends to see us gods destroyed before her. And that means…" Zeus got a serious look on his face. "…it is our responsibility to respond in kind."

"That's exactly what I want to hear." Shiva agreed getting up hot energy wrapping around him. "Then this next one's all mine! I'm ready to knock those miserable lowlifes down a few pegs!"

"Oh, that's right. I forgot. You see about that…"

Shiva's body cooled down instantly. "You're really going to take another fight away from me?"

Blood and steam came off of Zeus in his anger. "And I must once again… apologize. But surely you understand that a Greek god must be the one to take revenge for another." Furious power could be felt coming from Zeus, Hermes, and Ares.

"Well, well, well, looks like Ares has some balls after all. There might be some hope for you yet pretty boy." Sashin thought.

"Hm. Not going to give me much choice, huh? Shiva said. "You Greeks do what you gotta do." Zeus laughed at getting his way.

"The order doesn't matter." Anjia thought. "One by one we'll learn your secrets and watch you get destroyed. Then you all will face our judgement."

The next day Goll, Tony, Lucas, and Daniel were wandering the halls. "Oh man, the next battle's going to be starting any minute now." Goll said. "Where the heck did that big sister of mine go off to?"

"I'm more worried about the Planters." Tony said. "Big place like this is not good for little frogs to get lost in."

"Yeah." Lucas agreed. "Humans might think they're some kind of servants of the gods and attack them. Or some god might fry them for being mortals or just to have frog's legs."

"They grew up in a world with monster animals that try to eat them all the time. They can handle themselves." Daniel reassured.

Then Goll saw someone. "Ah! There you are Brunnhilde…" she then saw who Brunnhilde was talking to. "Huh? Why is with Hermes?" Hermes looked at the group and gave Goll a small bow before walking off as Brunnhilde turned toward them. "Hey Brunnhilde, what were you two chit-chatting about just now?"

"Me and him? Nothing to be concerned about." Brunnhilde said as she began to walk away.

"What do you mean? W… Wait a second, you can't just leave us behind like that!" Goll said as she and her nephews followed her big sister.

In the arena at that time. "We lost the others. Why did you two had to take so long?" Sprig asked.

"It's not our fault there aren't many bathroom rooms in this place!" Polly complained.

"The match is going to start any second now." Ivy said. "We'll just have to sit in the stands with the humans."

"Without any disguises…" Sprig sighed. "I hope you gotten used to being stared at sweetie. Thing is I wish we had the guys to explain things about this next fighter, they seemed put off about him."

The Planters got into the stands thankful it was dark on the inside as Heimdall began. "The final battle between god and man, Ragnarök round four! The gods have two wins! And the humans have one. However this plays out, it's sure to set the tone for battles to come."

Out of the floor of the arena building and a big wall rose. Screens appeared on the outside showing what was in. The humans were confused. "Huh, none of the other battles began like this."

"I've never seen anything like it."

"Well, that isn't spooky." Polly said sarcastically.

Heimdall explained. "Now, before your eyes is a replica of 19th century London, England. The fighter representing humanity has requested that the fight take place here, and the fighter for the gods graciously accepted. Today, you'll bear witness to a historic first. It's god versus man in a knock-down, drag-out street fight!"

"Does the weird arena mean the gods are giving us some sort of special advantage or something?"

"But why?"

"With what we've seen so far, more like they don't care." Ivy said.

Heimdall went on. "I can't even imagine how this fight will unfold. Now representing humanity in round four, is this man." A figure in fine clothes, a cane, and a mask stepped out into the mist. "Friday, August 31st, 1888, a monster emerged from the dense fog of the city with his fangs sharp and bare. Was murdering five prostitutes during his reign of terror the ultimate goal? No. Was it to destroy society? No. This lone man plunged the three million citizens of London into very depths of fear. He's the vilest of the vile, with a heart of pure darkness! His moniker is that of the most infamous killer in the history of mankind!" The man threw his mask off finally revealing his face with a clockwork monocle to the world at last as it shattered. "Jack the Ripper!"

The frogs saw the humans around them had looks of shock and terror on their faces.

"Jack the Ripper?"

"What, he's here?"

"No way!"

"That's the real Jack?"

The greatest mystery un the history of crime is standing right in front of us."

"No, this is insane!"

"Why'd they'd pick a serial killer to represent humanity?"

"Oh…that's why Daniel and his brothers were put off." Sprig gulped. "We're trusting our friends' fate to what seems to be one the most feared humans of all!"

Well now. So that's the choice you decided to make. Loki said pulling out two potato chips out of a bag he had. "I'll give you credit for one thing; she always fights dirty."

Something was happening in the Three Goddess Sister's box. "Sashin?" Marcelia asked. Sashin was breathing hard on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Sister, tell us what's wrong!" Anjia ordered hoping not to be overheard.

"It's Sasha…" Sashin gulped. "She's…terrified. And it's not anything I'm doing!"

"Sasha!" Anne and Marcy cried.

Inside Sashin Sasha was panicking. "What happening? Why do I…? Why do I…?" Sasha saw the world in red as she felt cold night air and a sharp pain, she saw a knife shine in the fog, and most of all she… "Why do I remember his face?!"

Unaware of this Heimdall continued. "And now, the god who intends to avenge his brethren's defeat. This fighter needs no introduction. But I'm gonna give him one anyway! The valiant warrior who felled the Nemean Lion and Cerberus with his bare hands. He accomplished the 12 labors imposed upon him and ascended to become half-human, half-god." The fighter rode in on a chariot carrying a lion shaped club. "The bringer of light to heaven and earth, the messenger of justice, the unrivaled hero…" The fighter stepped off a swung his club with such strength it dissipated the mist. "Hercules!"

"Get we put a criminal out and they send a hero among gods. This is not going to make humans look better back home." Polly moaned.

"Of course, he accepted Jack's request." Daniel said. "In his mind it's not an advantage at all."

"What?" Tony questioned.

"We don't follow bro." Lucas said.

"Guys, remember the stories! The Caledonian Boar, the Stygian Birds, the Hydra!" Daniel said. "This is a guy who's used to fighting monsters in their lairs."

Draw bridges closed locking the fighters in as Heimdall went on. "Good versus evil. Evil versus good. Has there ever been a battle that drew those lines more clearly than this one? And now, it begins. Is everybody ready?"

"Their battles really happening." Goll said.

Brunnhilde looked on thinking. "No matter what it costs us, we have to win. For the survival of the human race."

At the same time Daniel thought. "No matter what we face, we have to win. To save our loves, to help our new friends home, and for the survival of the human race."

Heimdall got things started. "The final battle between god and man, Ragnarök, round four. For the gods Hercules! For the humans, Jack the Ripper! Fight!"

And Ragnarök goes on…

AN: The story will be on hiatus until Record of Ragnarök season 2 comes out. Until then tell me what you think.