Chapter 5

Equal in Combat

As the two combatants met in the center of the battlefield , Sobek raised his stave again, this time in an upwards arc , his weapon meeting Lenin's . Who had leapt in the air , hammer held above his head before bringing it down heavily , the resounding " Clang ! " shook the entire audience to their cores .

After holding their ground , trying to break through each other's guard , both Lenin and Sobek took a step back before engaging in combat again . Sobek arched his body back , his stave held behind above his head , and then brought it down in a sweeping arc towards Lenin .

" Cascading Smasher ! "

Lenin barely had time to raise his hammer and defend himself when the full weight of Sobek's stave slammed down onto it , breaking his guard . And in one fluent move , Sobek thrust his weapon upwards , catching Lenin straight in the jaw . Sending him flying across the arena and landing with a " Splash ! " in the water . His eyes fluttered shut , seemingly knocked out for the count .

The gods cheered , much to Sobek's delight , as he turned around basking in their applause and soaking up their praise .

" Yeah ! Let's go Sobek ! Show them the power of a savage monster ! "

" Ain't no way we're losing this round with such beastly strength ! "

Unbeknownst to Sobek , the supposedly unconscious Lenin's right hand was slowly moving towards his hammer

Turning back to his downed enemy , Sobek rushed over to the fallen warrior , raising his stave over his right shoulder like a baseball bat once again and brought it down upon Lenin .

" Savage Maw ! "

Humanity gasped , was this the end of Lenin ?

Suddenly Lenin's eyes shot open , his right palm curled around the very base part of the hammer's pole , and with lighting speed , he rose , thrusting the hammer's head straight into Sobek's stomach .

" Rebellious thruster ! "

Sobek's eyes widened in shock , as he was sent flying backwards , spitting out blood and crashing into the floor like Lenin had not just a minute ago . Humanity cheered at their fighter's turnabout . While the gods groaned ,

" Dammit , I knew that beast was all just brute strength . "

" Even with that shield he still was sent flying backwards like a ragdoll by that politician , talk about humiliating . "

Amongst the celebrating human's was a Russian man in the front rows , who was cheering louder than the other humans alongside other Soviet members . He had curly black hair , a mustache and goatee , and wore round glasses with no arms called a Pensne on his nose . He was Leon Trotsky , Lenin's de facto second in command when he was in power .

" Haha ! You showed those haughty gods what for Comrade Lenin ! With you as our representative , we are bound to win the first round for mankind ! "

A few seats down Trotsky however , came a loud scoff . Coming from a Man dressed in a tunic with various military awards and badges adoring his chest , his hair was in a flat side swept style , and he wore a mustache like Trotsky except without the goatee . This was Joseph Stalin , the brutal dictator who had risen to power in the Soviet party after Lenin's death; his cruel rule was one of fear and oppression . And had left a stain on the country's history as his rule had led to the deaths of about 6 million individuals through the years he was in power .

Trotsky glared coldly at Stalin , not only for his disrespect , but also for the fact that Stalin had exiled Trotsky from the party after beating him to the seat of power , and then later having him assassinated . " Pray tell , what do you find so amusing , Stalin ? Are you blindly doubting Comrade Lenin's prowess even after he has successfully turned the tables on a god ? I knew you were faithless to his inclusion in Ragnarok , but I didn't expect you to be so open to it . "

Stalin smirked at Trotsky , " You are the one blindly watching this match Comrade Trotsky , you underestimate the power of both combatants . Sobek and Lenin have not shown the true extent of their abilities , and yet you are so quick to assume that victory is assured ? I'm afraid with your mindset , you may be sorely disappointed with the round's results . "

Trotsky became outraged at Stalin's comment , and rose from his seat , with Stalin following suit . The two seemingly about to engage in their own brawl on the sidelines . However they were interrupted by the appearance of a German man with bramble-like facial hair , the famous philosopher Karl Marx , the very same man whose works had influenced and inspired Socialist like Lenin and many others .

" Sit down the both of you " , he said in a commanding voice , " I do not care for your differing views or opinions , in times like these . Humanity must stand united and support our fighters to ensure our survival . Squabbling like petty children will do us no good . "

Begrudgingly , the two men sat back down , still casting a scornful look at one another . At the same time , Sobek stirred and groggily stood up , wincing as he held his bruised underbelly and

Staring daggers at Lenin . " Your tricks are getting irritating humans , Were it not for that armor you would have already been dead . I promise you that this time , " he said whilst spinning his stave and slamming it down on the floor . " I will have you dead at my feet . "

Lenin let out a short laugh , before wincing as massaging his wounded jaw , blood trickling from his mouth . " Please , how many times have you said that Comrade Sobek ? And how many times have I countered your attacks and forced you into a stalemate ? Perhaps it has nothing to do with my armor protecting me , and more to do with the fact that you are easily distracted by the roar of the crowd ! "

Sobek let out a furious roar , " Bullshit ! You dare insult me with such a notion human ?! For that i will make sure you die slowly and painfully ! " With that , the Crocodile God charged full speed once more at Lenin , but this time not with his stave raised , but rather with his claws outstretched , and his gigantic maw wide open . He now truly looked like the dreaded Beast god of the Duat so many fearful people had named him as .

And what was Lenin's reaction ? Was he fearfully gazing at this hulking giant stomping through the waters straight towards him ? No , rather the Father of Communism simply smirked , and dropped his hammer , holding both of his fists upwards , as if accepting Sobek's challenge .

" What's this ? Sobek is charging straight towards Lenin at full speed intent on ripping him to shreds ! But Lenin isn't making any attempt to dodge his attack , rather he seems to be planning to meet Sobek head on ! " Heimdall shouted while the audience held their breath , what was Lenin planning ? Was he really going to take Sobek's attack head on without his weapons ? Surely that was suicide ! "

As the raging Crocodile God loomed above him , claws sweeping downwards to rake straight through his body . Lenin simply grinned and shot forward his right fist , slamming it straight into Sobek's open palm .

And then , Lenin did the unthinkable , he stopped the raging god dead in his tracks . Try as Sobek might, he could not force his claws down to rip Lenin apart , in fact his whole body didn't seem to be able to move at all . The crowds of gods and humans gasped , how could this be ? Even with a suit of divine armor , most gods, much less a human could never dream of stopping the deadly claws of Sobek , yet here Lenin stood doing just that , without even breaking a sweat as it seemed .

Sobek was flabbergasted , no being besides Lord Ra had ever been able to perfectly counter him head on without the aid of weapons . Yet how did this one infuriating human do it ? How was it that a lowly mortal Politician in a suit of armor was his equal . Then Sobek noticed something else , Lenin's right fist was glowing , and that light was slowly making its way past his right arms , shoulders and finally to his left arm and curled up fist .

Lenin looked Sobek dead in the eyes , before pulling back his fist and uttering , " Checkmate my dear Comrade . "

" Radical Overthrow , Equalizer's Fist ! "

Lenin's fist slammed straight into Sobek's chest , and to everyone's shock , Sobek included , the Crocodile god was sent flying straight into the arena's wall , slamming into it with a sickening " Crunch ! " Before he fell back on the very edge of the perimeter , his legs just hanging off the side of the moat .

" Un-unbelievable ! " Heimdall yelped " Lenin has just done the unthinkable ! He not only stopped Sobek dead in his tracks , but has somehow also been able to retaliate with a punch of so much force that it has sent the Beast God of the Duat straight into the side of the arena ! Who would have predicted such a shocking outcome ! "

Humanity erupted into cheers , their victory was assured ! Their fighter had just performed a feat that could only be described as superhuman ! He had left a god facedown on the ground with only a single punch !

Meanwhile , the gods were beside themselves with shock and fury .

" What the hell was that ?! How was that Politician able to send Sobek of all gods flying ? "

" No way that suit of armor is just for protection , whatever those Valkyries did to it is just out of this world ! "

" Sobek ! You mindless savage ! Get back up on your feet ! Aren't you supposed to be the Dreaded Beast God of the Duat ? You're embarrassing us all ! "

Up in their observation box , Ra and his attendants were staring at the scene below dumbfounded . " Wha-what the hell ? How is that human so powerful , he sent Sobek flying as if he was as heavy as a bag of flour with just one punch ? What is that guy made of ? " Huitzilopochtli yelled in shock

" Don't be stupid ! " Amaterasu growled , " It's not the human who performed that incredible feat , it was that suit of armor he is wearing ! The Divine Weapons produced by that jar little Pandora are incredibly powerful ! "

Both of them turned to Ra , who unlike them , seemed slightly baffled by Lenin's display of power . " Lord Ra , aren't you even the tiniest bit worried ? That Politician may very well beat Sobek and win the first round of Ragnarok ! " Huitzilopochtli yelled

Ra turned to the Aztec god with a dark look , " I would advise against yelling at me Huitzilopochtli , you are not to question me at all whilst in my service , do you understand ? "

Huitzilopochtli swallowed nervously at the Egyptian god's piercing look , " Apologies , Lord Ra , I got too carried away , I didn't mean to question your authority . "

Ra turned his head back to observe the match with an eerie glow in his eyes , " Relax Huitzilopochtli , Sobek is much more powerful than you think , this match is far from decided , this i promise you . "