Chapter 3

The gods were in disarray.
The death of Zues weighed heavily on them as they spoke to one another.
"We have no choice now" Spoke Shiva, full of rage and confidence "I'm thee strongest here after the old timer! You have to send me out!" He demanded Pride clouding his judgment.

Hermes and Ares would sit in silent contemplation. As the rest of the gods argued and discussed who they'd be sending.
"What a daring claim for someone so afraid~!" Loki spouted with his usual weasel like tone
"What'd you say?!" ASked Shiva glaring at the smaller deity.
Loki raised his hands defensively "I'm only saying~ Your legs were shaking as wildly as anyone else's at seeing our strongest piece taken so early into the ragnarok. It's a reaction anyone would have~" Spoke the trickster."Why, Even i don't think this prank they're playing is all that funny anymore." His face would shift from childish mischief to one of solemn contemplation.

Ares would suddenly stand up
"No! No one is going but one of us!" Spoke the mountain of muscle. "I'll step in, Even if i have to fight one of you to take your spot!"
Hermes would also stand, Seething with rage "It should afterall, Fall onto a greek god to avenge one of our own." He would say with his unyieldingly calm cadence. "

"Precisely my thoughts": Came another , cool headed voice, Walking in trident slung over his shoulder, The other gods would turn their attention to him,"But you two fools were left out of this ordeal for a good reason… "
"Poseidon…" Ares said, before smirking."Other than Zues himself, there's not a god or man alive he could contest you… Very well IF you're wanting to go next i won't stop you"
Hermes nodded right along "Agreed."

Poseidon would give a brief nod.
"Of course, Whoever they send out will be torn to shreds, and tossed to the depths." His voice hiding an uncontrollable anger. Any who'd dare trifle with the perfection of the gods would pay for their heresy, with their lives and existence.

Those were the thoughts flowing through Poseidon's mind.
—-

Brunhilde, Goll and Cu sat there As Fionn continued 'manifesting' his premonition.

Never before had the girls there been so nerve-wracked over watching a man suck his thumb…
However, As the quartet sat about Someone came in. An older man with long graying hair, and a sheath at his side.
"IF you lot wouldn't mind, I would like to take this next round" He spoke with a thick, japanese accent. Earning their attention

"Ah," Cu chulainn spoke, it didn't take long for the hound to size up the warrior standing across from him. "A hell of a fighter we have here. "
The older man would give a smirk"I wouldn't go as far as to say that… But i am honored to be acknowledged by you of all people"
Goll looked between the two of them

"Do you two know each other?" She asked. "And who are you old timer?"
Cu chuckled at Goll's words before speaking "Why, this man is Sasaki Kojiro Of course!"
Brunhilde's eyebrow raised momentarily. As Goll looked cluelessly between the imageshown from the holograms on Hilde's phone.
"There's no way that can be right! He's way older than Sasaki!" She said absolutely befuddled, As Fionn chirped in.

"The heavens show a man in the prime of his strength. However, As a man dedicated to his art as he is, Kojirou never got to reach that prime, Theoretically speaking, This old timer is him at the best he would have been, Had he more time in the mortal world."

Brunhilde would turn to who was now, essentially her co-captain.
"AhYou've finished with your scouting. Do you think Sasaki would make a good choice here? Fionn?"
Taking a moment to think he would , after a brief moment of contemplation.
"With their pride so thoroughly wounded with the death of Zues, I'd have to say that poseidon is their most likely next choice, Followed shortly by herakles… Against the former, our only surefire victory is Cu chulainn, But it's to my understanding you're saving him as our ace in the whole."
Fionn surmised, Making Cu Bush.

"Dawww, i knew ya didn't hate me Hildy!" He joked with a cheeky smile.
That earned him a firm glare from the valkyrie.
"That wasn't the question I had asked Fionn."
The other Irishman nodded. "If Kojiro were to go out, Under normal circumstances, i'd say he'd have a three in ten shot of winning. "Goll froze at his words.
"T-three in ten! There's no way we can let anyone out there with those terrible odds!"
"You didn't let me finish," Fionn spoke. "The rest of our remaining fighters have less than a one in ten chance… And not because they're weak mind you, But merely because unlike the rest of them, Poseidon doesn't play with his food. "
"And that's even before getting' into abnormal circumstances!" Cu said with a chuckle. Catching Goll and Brunhilde's attention.
"What'dya mean, Cu?" Asked Goll Looking up at him questioningly. The fact she managed to catch his gaze gave her the burning need to avert her eyes in embarrassment for herself, But she ignored it for now.

"Well, Goll, " he said. "What is Poseidon ,known for above all else.?"
"U-uhm… His strength, His cold demeanor, His pride…"
"That last one! Exactly, Now, has anything happened to Poseidon recently that might've wounded his pride?"

Goll would quirk her head to the side, giving a bit of a confused glare. "Well obviously his little brother was killed by a mere mortal!"
"Yes! We're almost there! Now, How would you feel if your pride was wounded for some reason or another?" Cu asked, Leaning down to her level with a sure smile, The rest of the group watching him.
"Well Frustrated…?"
"Yes! Final question Goll"He said resting his chin on his hand and his elbow on his knee. "When people get angry or frustrated what happens?"He asked. Delighting in the bulb in Goll's head seemingly lit up before his eyes, She smiles wide as she exclaims.
"They make mistakes!"
"RingadingDing! Scholar of the millenia here" He said with a loud laugh as he snapped his fingers..his praise causing Goll to bring her hands to her cheeks in an effort to hide a blush.

Sasaki chuckled at the display
"Well well, quite a lovely young couple Eh?" He asked Brunhilde Causing Goll to blush even more.
"It's not like that!" Said the young valkyrie, her skin looking almost sunburned from embarrassment before Brunhilde interjected.
"The hound isn't searching for such things. Keep those words buried in your mind, For your own sake as much as his. "
Kojiro would raise a brow, Looking at the man who just a moment ago was so cheerful…

His eyes were filled with anger.

Not at him or anyone in the room, Just an overwhelming hatred, Those eyes were the kind of dark void that if you were to fall into them, you'd never crawl your way out.
It was quite evident that this young man had vengeance on the mind.
"I see, My apologies for making assumptions, To the both of you" Kojiro bowed his head."Regardless, I suppose i ought to prepare,"

Brunhilde would sigh. "Yes, Of course, Allow me to introduce you to your partner in fate." She would turn to the doorway, where stood young and beautiful woman with braided hair, Looking gently at the group.
"My name is Hrist.I look forward to getting to know you, Kojiro Sasaki." She gave a small curtsy.
"And i you!" Said the older samurai offering a handshake, which she took with ladylike poise. Which she graciously took …Before he felt a growing tightness, One that soon grew painful

"I have a favor to ask though" Hrist spoke gently, waiting for a response that came in the form of a nervous gulp and a nod."You better make whatever filthy god they send eat shit for what they did to my beloved sister Randgriz!"
"Kind and spirited!" Kojiro spoke with a grin " How could any man deny a young lady like that!?"

—-

The start of the third round was, To say the least, Very peculiar, No one expected Poseidon to make the first move, Let alone for the human swordsman to dodge it so easily.
From there, it became increasingly clear that the god of the sea was severely off his game, His attacks never garnering more than a handful of glancing blows.

'Heh' Kojiro thought 'that man whom brunhilde called 'the hound' was quite right here, the state Poseidon is in has given me and edge." He continued to think as he narrowly dodged another blow, 'even so, against a foe so strong… It feels as though I've been cast off into a dark abyss… No matter how I struggle against the water I grow no closer to the surface.'

Sasaki had finished blocking another vast current of sharp steel, taking a few deep breaths. Mere inches away from his opponent, Too close for a counter from a pole arm. "I've finally got you!" He shouts, unleashing an upward diagonal slash, as poseidon pulls back just enough to ensure the wound was minor.
Taking three small leaps back, Poseidon would growl, Snarling like a rabid dog despite his perfect image.

"Amazing! Despite the massive difference in strength and speed, Kojiro! He landed the first tangible damage in this bout! Especially compared to the meager knicks and scratches Poseidon has given him!"

Poseidon would glare angrily at the samurai, Hearing as the humans in the crowd openly mocked him..Baring his teeth like a cornered animal, Poseidon would charge forth, thrusting his spear out, Kojiro narrowly blocking as the trident caught his blade.
"I have grown quite annoyed with that obnoxious weapon!" He would twist the polearm in his hands, But Kojiro held firm, Each one had yanked in opposite directions, Causing poseidon's trident to fly from his hands, While Sasaki's blade was torn asunder. The broken end stabbing into the arena, while the drident flew just past into the water.

Poseidon, Enraged things continued to go unlike how he bpanned, rose his harm to the sky making a large geyser appear in the water surrounding the arena.
"Die!" He shouted, as the water streamed into a whirlpool around Kojiro From within the trunade of water, Blades of water would manifest, launching themselves at Kojiro.
Undeterred the samura would block dodge and weave as best he could, Even as he received gash after gash.

He fought on.

"Haha! Vengeance tastes so sweet doesn't it brother?" Ares asked arrogantly, leaning over the bannister. To which Hermes gave a small grunt.
"Poseidon has lost… "
"Huh?" asked ares shocked to hear. "But he's clearly in the lead."
"Even so… The loss in his composure from a meager human has clearly shaken the confidence of the crowd, " Hermes spoke, pointing out the gods in the stands.

"How can he be so desperate as to use his water powers?"
"He looks so unhinged? Was a measly human really that much of a challenge?"
"I'm starting to think these mortals really are no joke…"

"Ares… I believe we have made a grave mistake, Taking Brunhilde up on her challenge."
The mountain of muscle, Hearing the crowds, And even his own brother would slump into his seat.
"What a disaster…"
—-

The whirlpool would wind down, As the water grief red, But rather than a piece of bloody, raw chum, Poseidon was aggrieved to see the samurai still standing.
"Poseidon… God of the sea, A perfect being as you've said, Correct?" Asked Sasaki through haggard breaths. As he walked to the remnants of his blade. Picking it up. "I have a question."

Poseidon, exhausted both physically and mentally made a grunt of affirmation. "Speak your last words."
"Have you ever been able to claim nature as your own teacher… Or found a foe you admired so greatly that you would die for them?" He asked, tightening his grip. Hearing only silence in return." Ah… Of course not… Sorry to have asked… " The blood would drip from his palms "A selfish, pitiable creature like you could never experience such wonders!" He shouted, As both the blade and hilt of his sword began to glow with the power of the Valkyrie. Transforming into a pair of twin blades.

"You dare pity me?" He asked, Manifesting his aquatic attack. Only with a far different outcome.
—-

"Oh no/… Right when I thought Hrist was going to be okay he pulls out that crazy water move again…" Goll said, about ready to burst into tears.
CCu would chuckle a bit"Ah, don't wet yerself lass, Watch closely." He advised, Making Goll look up at him,"Quit staring at me, and watch your sister do her work!" He encouraged Goll to look at the match once more.

And when she did , she'd see from her vantage point that he was absolutely right to be so relaxed… Witnessing kojiro sasaki scale up from his low position by jumping up the blades of water! His movements exact and powerful ,one step that lingered too long or too weakly would no doubt tear him to shreds from the waterp pressure alone,

"His thousand arms defense has evolved a stage beyond!" Brunhilde would gloat. "And with that spout of luck with Hrist and her dual natures…." she would go from cool and confident to having the joy of a young impish child. "Go Kojiro! I choose you! Kick that gutless fish's ass!"

Fionn would smile with a cool confidence."It's rare to see you in such high spirits… Sasakli has this won!"
—-

As Kojiro jumped with the agility of a master swordsman, he would clear the top of his foe's vicious whirlpool, doing a flip on his way down to attack Poseidon, he would bring both blades down, Slicing him from each shoulder to each hip.
"D-Damn you… Little fish…." He would say, as his quartered torso fell apart, His lifeless body falling to the ground, Dead.

"Impossible! Or that's what i'd say had it not happened before our very eyes! The humans have scored another remarkable win! Placing them in the lead!"Heimdall shouted, earning massive cheers from the humans, And overtaking the gods with an overwhelming dread…
Sasaki, however, sat down with a sense of contentment…
"I think i could get used to this whole winning thing…!" He spoke before lying back, His blades becoming hrist once more to cradle him.

"Oh my… " she said with a quiet smile "You fought so hard… A man like you deserves some rest"She would then swap to the Hrist who trembles in anger. "But if you ever fight like that with me again… "
"Eheheh! I wouldn't dream of it, my lady." He spoke with kindness, As she accompanied him to the infirmary. Carried by stretcher.
—-

After the battle, Brunhilde and Goll would walk together to the elder's chambers. Silently…

It wasn't a pleasant one, But awkward, like a clammy sweat after a heavy meal.
"Goll,." Brunhilde broke the silence. "I can tell you have something you want to ask me."
"Ah… " Goll responded. "It's not important, We should focus on the ragnarok… right?"
Brunhilde sighed."For the time being, we are allies and tools for our fighters, But as sisters we can talk about whatever you need. Whenever you need."

Goll didn't know what to make of that.
"Well… You said earlier that Cu wasn't looking to become a couple with anyone…?"
"Ah… Does my little sister have a crush?"
"W-what?" She asked. "Nononono! Uhhm…. "
"If it's not that, then why even ask?"

"I figured… If you must know… " Brunhilde sighed. "His heart belongs to someone… Someone lost to niflheim."
"Huh?" Asked Goll. "T-that's horrible! How did-?"
" It… Isn't really my place to say… Nor would I suggest you go to him about it. For as personable as he seems, he's not the kind of person you want to catch in a bad mood."
Goll would look down, Disappointed. "I see…"

Their walk would continue, once again in that cold, Clammy silence.