Athena stood after being hit by Ada's Gigabyte Buster Punch. As she picked up her spear, the goddess saw her shield in Ada's hands.

"My shield, give that back to me," Athena demanded.

Ada replied sternly, "Sorry, but it will be more trouble for me."

Ada musters much of the strength in her suit to break the Aegis in half. There was a gasp from the gods as if Ada had committed some blasphemy.

'She's...just destroyed one of Heaven's greatest treasures," Heimdall thought.

Athena was awestruck as the broken shield fell to the ground.

Athena growled, "No, NO! How is this possible?! The Aegis turns mortals and gods alike into stone. How did you survive it?"

Ada smirks as she explains, "Simple, I studied about the Aegis capabilities when I scanned your shield. So I activate my optical barrier to prevent your Aegis from turning me into stone. But to make you think it works, I use camouflage technology to appear as if you made me a statue."

Ares was shocked that this human was able to outsmart his sister.

"I-I don't remember the last time anyone challenged Athena's intelligence. Are these humans this capable?"

Zeus scoffs his Ares's Statement.

"Don't be ridiculous, you fool! Athena will never be defeated by the likes of that human. Am I right? Amaterasu? Huitzilopochtli?"

Amaterasu nodded in agreement while Huitzilopochtli laughed at that possibility.

"That Ada girl would have to be the luckiest mortal to beat your daughter."

Macha, Badb, and Nemain agreed with Zeus. Same with Hermes and Aphrodite.

In the arena, Athena grew tired of Ada's tricks and felt her hatred and bloodlust stirring.

"You know, Ada. In all my lifetimes, I have never encountered a mortal so infuriating as you. I usually prefer to end my battles as quickly and efficiently as possible. But now, I want to make you pay."

Many of the gods were taken aback by Athena's words. They also sense an aura of violence from the goddess. Even Nike and Perseus were afraid of their goddess.

Athena raised Minerva in the air and channeled her disdain for Ada and the humans into her weapon. When the weapon began sparking red electricity, it transformed into a large red battleaxe. At the same time, the irises in her eyes became crimson.

Minerva Misitós: Wrathful Blade of the Olympus

Athena cracks her neck as she prepares to attack.

"Now, Ada, humanity's hope dies with you!"

The blade was poised to strike the programmer as Athena jumped into the air. Ada narrowly dodged the attack

which created a massive crater on the arena floor.

"Such power! With Athena's powerful axe, will Ada find a way to encounter it?" Heimdall exclaimed

Ada didn't expect Athena to use such a weapon. She always assumed, from the myths, that the goddess wielded swords and spears.

"Reginleif, are you there? I need your help," Ada requested her valkyrie's aid.

The AI of Reginleif appeared with a bloody scar on her left eye.

Ada gasped, "Reginleif, your eye!"

Reginleif scoffs, "It's fine. I'm more resilient than I look."

Ada sighed in acceptance, " Okay. How much energy do I have left?"

The valkyrie gave a concerned look.

"Unfortunately, you have 15% of power left."

Ada nods in understanding and thinks of her battle with Athena so far.

'This battle has been back and forward. Despite us countering each other moves, Reginleif and my suit can't sustain much more damage. I made to find the solution to her impossible equation.'

Ada imagines herself calculating all of the numbers in her struggle. Meanwhile, Athena charges at Ada with her axe, ready to strike.

"I got it!" Ada yelled as she again narrowly evaded Athena's attack.

Ada looked at the one remaining wing on her suit.

"Reginleif, it's time to go for the Terabyte Sword and Data Shield!"

"Got it!" The valkyrie said as the wing detached from the suit.

The wing began to transform and shape into a mechanized kit shield and sword. Ada picked up her weapons with both hands and prepared herself.

"It seems that Ada Lovelace is gonna fight Athena face to face. As the curtain is about to fall on this round, who will claim victory!" Heimdall announced.

Both the humans and the gods cheered for their respective champions to win. Zeus stared intently as his throne began to crack due to his restlessness.

Athena yelled, "You won't let you win, Ada! Your type has brought destruction in its wake."

Ada sneers, "My kind?! Don't think I don't know about what you did to Arachne and Medusa. You were supposed to be the best of your pantheon."

Athena retorts, "Arachne insulted my family because she moaned that I was 'taking away' her hard work. And Medusa, I gave her life purpose, and how did she repay my generosity? By fornicating with my uncle in my temple! I tried to fulfill the wish of a dear friend, but your people made it impossible!"

Ada questioned, "Your friend?"

Athena asked, "Pallas."

Ancient Greece

Three months before the incident

Athena sat under the shade of a tree as she read a book. As she reads, out of nowhere, a discus soars towards her. Athena caught the disc without taking her eyes off her book.

Athena sighed in annoyance, "Pallas, how many times did I tell you not to disturb me when I'm reading."

Pallas walks to where Athena is sitting with an embarrassed smile.

"Heh, sorry, Theny. Guess I threw it in the wrong way. My bad."

Athena let out a small chuckle, "It's fine. I'm just glad it's a disc and not an arrow."

Pallas huffed as she sat next to her best friend.

"Whatever, bookworm."

Then Pallas's demeanor became serious, and she asked something important.

"Hey, Athena. What do you think of the humans?"

Athena was surprised by that question but answered it.

"Well, I have no opinion towards them. At best, they're adequate. At worst, a nuisance."

Pallas smiled, "Well, I think that they have potential."

Athena asked, "How come?"

Pallas replied, "Well, they seem to be flawed. And while the gods see it as a weakness, I see it as their strength."

Athena retorts, "Pallas, with all due respect, humanity needs us to make sure they don't kill each other. Their flaws are quite self-destructive."

Pallas soughed, "I know, but we're not perfect either, and I want to be a goddess who helps everyone in need."

Athena could help but smile warmly at her friend's optimism.

"Well, I wish you luck on that desire. Maybe I'll help you."

Pallas stuck out her pinky finger, "Promise?"

Athena wrapped her pinky finger around Pallas's.

"Promise."

Current Day

Athena and Ada Lovelace lunge at one another. Their weapons clash as metal pounds on metal. Ada's shield blocks Athena's furious axe swings but is smashed in the process. Ada landed a cut on Athena's right arm, which only made her angrier.

Athena's thoughts raged in her head.

'How could this be? Why won't she falter?! Could it be that I underestimated her?'

Reginleif then appeared to Ada with a warning.

"Ada, you're at 7% of power! You have to end this now!"

As Ada and Athena sent each other back, they prepared for their final strike. Athena dashes forward with the intent to cleave Ada in half. Ada used her boosters in the race toward the daughter of Zeus with her blade.

"OLYMPIAN JUDGMENT!" Athena roared

"TERABYTE ENGINE DRIVE!' Ada roared back

The gods felt their world shaken to the core as they witnessed one of heaven's finest warriors getting impaled through the stomach by Ada's sword. Athena coughed up more blood, much to the horror of the gods, especially Zeus.

As Ada thrust the blade, her armor began to fall apart, leaving her in her lab coat, dress, and goggles with the left lens broken. Despite being in pain, Athena put two and two together."

Athena groaned, "Y-your goggles... they are your...volund."

"Yes, Reginleif controlled the function of my suit and imbued it with her power," Ada stated as she pulled the sword out of the defeated goddess.

Athena stumbled back a few steps before collapsing to her knees.

"What are you waiting for? Insult me, as your kind does," Athena said in a defeating tone.

Ada held her side as she limped to Athena.

"No," Ada said.

Athena held her head to look at Ada and saw a look of empathy on Ada's face.

"Why are you pitying me? After everything I have done, I don't deserve your sympathy. You were right. I lost myself to my hubris. I let all of the expectations crush me and blamed my failures on others."

Then tears came down from Athena's weary eyes.

"Worst of all, I failed Pallas."

Ada felt sad for Athena and said warmly, "It's not your fault. We all make mistakes. I made plenty in my life. However, despite our failures, if we learn from them. We can become better versions of ourselves. And Athena..."

Ada smiled with the same confidence as Pallas.

"You are a great goddess."

As Athena's body began to glow and slowly break, she understood her friend's passion for humanity.

Athena thought to herself for the final time before closing her eyes.

'Pallas, my friend. You were right about humanity. They truly have potential."

Athena hung her head and closed her eyes but had a serene smile. Thus, Athena disintegrated and shattered into the cosmos.

The humans couldn't believe what they saw before their eyes.

One human said, "Wait! Does this mean?!"

Heimdall stumbled to try to declare the winner.

"A...Ada...Lovelace has defeated a god! Therefore, your winner of Ragnarok Round 3 and representing humanity..."

As Heimdall announces, the audience of humanity cheers in victory.

"ADA LOVELACE!"

After losing Lancelot and Saint Germain, humans finally triumphed over a god. Brunhilde and Goll hugged each other in celebration of Ada's win. Hera and Santa Muerte had a celebratory drink. Somewhere in the arena, Hachiman smiled as they finally proved themselves to the other gods.

Meanwhile, Lady Bryon jumped for joy that her daughter won.

"She did it! She did it! She did it!"

Charles Babbage gave a hearty laugh, "I didn't doubt her mathematical mind for a moment!"

As Euryales and Stheno watched from the other side of the arena, they cried tears of joy, for their little sister, Medusa, had finally been avenged. Arachne, however, stared at the weapon of her once-hated foe.

'So you finally understand, huh, Athena? If only you weren't so stubborn.'

Nike and Perseus broke down into sorrow and despair that their goddess is gone.

As humanity celebrated, Ada looked around and felt honored.

"To think that a programmer like me is being cheered. So...noisy."

As Ada loses her footing, Reginleif transforms back into herself to catch Ada.

"Ada, are you alright," Reginleif asked.

"I'm alright, just some bruised or cracked ribs, possible internal bleeding, and a slight case of tremor. But nothing too major," Ada joked.

Goll looked at Reginleif and yelled happily, "Reginleif, I'm so happy that you're okay!"

Reginleif used her working eye to see Goll and smiled.

"As I said, sister. I told you I would avenge Hrist and Skuld, Didn't you?" Reginelif said to Goll with reassurance.

Goll nodded in approval.

Goll looked to Brunhilde and said, "With Ada's victory, the gods know humanity's worth, right?"

Hera and Brunhilde's demeanor became serious.

"No, Goll, why still need six victories to go," Brunhilde stated while leaving to prepare for the next round.

Goll asked, "But ask?"

Hera answers bluntly, "Because valkyrie, the gods are not going to yield, so we shouldn't either."

As the gates open for Ada and Reginleif and left the arena, Heimdall announces, "After suffering two crushing defeats, the human race finally obtained victory over the gods! Has humanity got the gods dead to rights?"

Ragnarok Round Three

Ada Lovelace vs Athena

Winner: Ada Lovelace

Deciding Move: Terabyte Engine Drive

Time: 12:43

Epilogue

Palace of the Gods

Outside of Zeus's room

Huitzilopochtli, Amaterasu, Aphrodite, Ares, Itzpapalotl, and the Morrigan Sisters waited in the hallway outside the room of Zeus. Many are seething that a human has killed one of their own.

Huitzilopochtli growled, "I refused to believe it! A human...shouldn't be able to...KILL US!"

Itzpapalotl said cautiously, "Huitzilopochtli, please. Lord Zeus is grieving."

Huitzilopochtli roared, "I KNOW! I don't understand! Athena was a masterful warrior and strategist. How is that a programmer beat her?!"

Aphrodite sighed, "Huitzilopochtli, control yourself. You're a chief god, aren't you? Carry yourself with dignity and regalness.

Huitzilopochtli scowled at the love goddess but relented. Then, Hermes came out of Zeus's room and closed the door behind him.

"Hermes, how is father," Ares says as he worries her Zeus's wellbeing.

Hermes exhaled heavily, "He's in an emotional shock."

"Are you saying he's catatonic," Amaterasu emitted concern.

Hermes replied, "Not exactly, but he's not taking Athena's death well. Will you excuse me?"

Hermes leaves the group and makes his way through the hall. As he walks, a sly, sinister smirk comes across his face.

Meanwhile, Huitzilopochtli yelled, "Great, with those damn humans having a point, and now, Zeus is semi-catatonic. We need a win in the fourth round."

Nemain laughs darkly, "We'll handle the fourth round together. We don't mind ripping those humans to pieces!"

Badb tossed one of her knives in the air, and Macha's hands flickered with dark energy.

"Oh no, I will go in the next round! This matter requires my intervention," the Aztec sun god retorts.

Then everyone heard a familiar yet annoying voice.

"Come on, everyone. We don't need to fight amongst ourselves. At this moment, we need to be united."

They recognized the voice to be that of the Jade Emperor. He walked towards them wearing green robes with an ornate crown.

Huitzilopochtli speaks to the emperor harshly, "What do you want?"

Jade snickered, "Come on, I come to condolences to Zeus after losing his daughter. Also, I have the solution to our problem."

Ares asked, "Really? Well, tell us!"

Jade Emperor smirks as he says, "With the victory of my nephew, Erlang Shen. How about I send my strongest warrior and the biggest nuisance for the fourth round."

It took no time for the gods to figure out who the Jade emperor meant.

Amaterasu smiled wickedly, "Well, I think I can speak for everyone when I say send him out. Send out..."

...

...

...

"The Monkey King!"

Next Time

The Tale of Two Guardians