Chapter 5
The man in the arena
Baldur had just lost his weapon, but this is only a minor problem for a god who has learned to fight with his bare hands.
"What are you going to do now, use your glaive?" Shaka asked.
The Nordic god placed his hand on the pommel of the weapon.
"It's a gift from my wife, so don't expect me to stain it with your blood."
Shaka chuckled at these words.
"Good luck finishing that fight then." replied the human.
Shaka lunged at Baldur, grabbing his ishlangu as he ran. The god manages to block this attack with just his arm and delivers a violent kick to Shaka's head, knocking him to the ground.
"Baldur seems even stronger without a weapon! Can Shaka still fight?" Rhymus wonders.
The Zulu warrior stands back up, once again, rubbing his jaw.
"When are you going to die?" said Baldur.
"Only after your own death." replies Shaka
Both fighters let out a battle cry as they rushed at each other. The shockwave each left behind shook the ground, as did their attacks. Shaka managed to slash Baldur many times, but the god returned each slash with a violent punch. These blows were terrible for the African king's internal organs and bones, and his mortal body was beginning not to take them as well, despite the Durability of a Rhinoceros. Baldur suddenly grabs Shaka's right arm and, in an instant, breaks it in two.
"SHAKA!" Nandi exclaimed in horror.
His iklwa fell to the ground as Shaka looked at his forearm, which was bent at 90 degrees. He grunted in pain, trying to put his arm back in place.
"Don't bother, it's over." said Baldur.
"N-Not while… I'm still alive." Shaka hardly replied
"In that case…"
Baldur raised his hands and began to shape a spear that seemed to be made of pure light.
"What the- since when can he do that?" Thor says surprised.
"I have to admit, this is a surprise." Odin finally spoke.
On the other side of the stands, Druca began to worry.
"It's- It's all over now, isn't it?" Phearl asked.
Druca didn't reply.
Further down the arena, Baldur's new spear was finished. Shaka saw this and took a step to the side to dodge, but realized that he couldn't dodge pure light.
"Spear of Light!"
Baldur hurled his spear at Shaka, who put his shield forward. It crossed the arena at lightning speed, indeed. When everyone understood what had just happened, a gaping hole could be seen through Shaka's ishlangu. But with the Zulu king standing behind, a similar hole could be seen in his torso. The Spear of Light had passed through everything in its path without stopping, even the arena wall behind Shaka.
Shaka coughed up blood, dropping his shield.
"Th-The Durability… of a Rhinoceros..."
"Can't counter the power of light, just as the Speed of a Cheetah can't surpass it." Baldur added, walking towards Shaka.
Shaka fell backwards, but Baldur caught him.
"Your people will no longer have to despise you for your past actions, you've proved to them all you can."
"Gl-Glad I could… cure you… Baldur." Shaka gathered his last strength to speak.
Baldur smiled.
"Thank you for everything, Shaka Zulu." replied Baldur
Shaka heard these words before his vision went dark and he took his last breath in his opponent's arms. His body began to glow, before turning into glowing dust.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of round two is none other than... BALDUR!" Rhymus shouted.
Baldur vs Shaka Zulu
Match Length: 15 minutes and 7 seconds
Deciding Move: Spear of Light
Victor: Baldur
Humanity sank further into despair as they lost their second battle. But it was even harder for Nandi, who had just lost her son forever. She was crying, completely inconsolable. Dingiswayo laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Your son… is the most incredible man I've ever known."
Nandi looked up at him.
"Don't be sad for him, be proud of what he's become." he added.
Shaka's mother wiped away her tears.
"You're right... I love you, my son." she said, raising her eyes to the sky.
Druca had returned to her quarters; the goddess needed some peace and quiet. Meanwhile, Selira and Phearl were walking down a corridor.
"Why don't you ever wear shoes?" Selira asked.
"What's the point of putting them on if you're going to take them off when you lie down?"
Selira rolled her eyes as the two girls arrive at Druca's quarters. The door opens automatically. Druca is sitting silently.
"Druca... I thought we could win with your blessings but it seems... it's not enough." expressed Phearl.
The blonde girl slowly approaches the goddess.
"What are we missing, answer me." she continued.
"Hope." Druca said after a moment.
The goddess stood up. She took a few steps to reach a screen and watch the fighters.
"We need someone who can inspire hope in humanity."
"And... we have someone like that?" Phearl wondered.
Druca stopped scrolling through the portraits, and a silhouette wearing a hat appeared.
"I think so." the goddess smiled.
Phearl was surprised to see the man in question.
"Him? For real?" she smiles too.
"Do you want to meet him before the fight?" Druca asked turning off the screen.
Phearl was even more surprised.
"Wait a minute, is that possible?"
Druca nodded and Phearl jumped for joy.
"Selira, are you coming?" Druca asked.
"JUST A MINUTE!" the young girl shouted from her room.
In her bedroom, Selira hung a poster of Blackbeard as she had promised, as well as one of Shaka Zulu.
"You two were the fucking best."
The girl expressed a touch of respect by bowing her head before joining Druca and Phearl.
In the gods' quarters, one of them had just arrived and was walking happily along. It's Dionysus, who has come to attend the party. Of course, he always has a glass of wine in hand. He enters a room and Athena is there, along with Baldur, partly covered in bandages.
"Well, it looks like there are some interesting things going on here. Zeus should have come." he says.
Dionysus sits down opposite Athena.
"At this rate, the seven wins are assured."
"Don't be so sure of yourself, drunk man." Baldur said. "These humans have more than one trick up their sleeve, and I respect them for it."
The god of wine laughed in a deep voice.
"You're kidding, they're not that good, are they?"
"Your guess, fatso." Baldur says as he displays his bandages.
Dionysus sips from his glass, pretending not to have heard anything.
"And so, who's going to go through to the next round, is it you Athena?"
"No." replied the goddess. "I'll do the next round, after this one."
"That doesn't answer my question." Dionysus said.
Someone entered the room at that moment.
"I've heard that Belial is next in line."
PERSEPHONE: WIFE OF HADES AND QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD
"I didn't expect to see you here." Athena says briefly.
"I'm the first to be surprised, but as my husband is busy, I thought I'd watch the tournament for him." Persephone replied.
Dionysus stood up suddenly.
"Well, let's get on with it, round three is just around the corner."
Druca, Phearl and Selira walk down a corridor with several doors. Each one is distinctively different, given that behind each of them stands one of the tournament's human fighters. The group of three stops in front of a door adorned with an eagle. They enter and, as they move forward, they can hear what sounds like a struggle. After a while, they can see two men arm wrestling.
"And another victory for the Bull Moose!" exclaims one of them.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT: 26TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
"Well done. What's the score, 7 to 0?" replied the other.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
"I see you're having fun, Abraham. Oh, and hello, Mr. Roosevelt." Druca says respectfully.
The two presidents stood up. Phearl raised her eyes to look at Lincoln, who appeared to be a giant next to her, his hat adding to that. She wanted to talk but was probably too shy. Abraham Lincoln noticed this and stooped to the same height as the young girl.
"Are you all right, little one?" he asked.
"It's-It's an honor, Mr. President!"
The president smiles and gives Phearl a pat on the head.
"I appreciate your affection but tell me, what's your name?"
"Phearl, Sir!"
Lincoln stood up, holding his hat.
"Pleased to meet you, young Phearl."
As for Selira, she looked at the other man.
"Are you Teddy fucking Roosevelt?"
Theodore laughed when he heard this.
"Well, well, well! Looks like I found a fan." the president said.
"You bet! You're such a chad!" Selira says excited.
"I don't know what that means, but I'll take it as a compliment!"
Selira and Roosevelt laughed together for a moment.
"I don't mean to interrupt, but we're here for a very different reason than just talking." Druca says suddenly.
She turns toward Lincoln.
"Abraham Lincoln, I'd like you to participate in the third round. A man like you can restore faith in humanity after these two defeats."
The president remained silent for a moment, pensive.
"I must refuse." he then said.
This decision took everyone by surprise and left them speechless.
"I answered your call, but I think someone else is better suited to take my place in this tournament." Abraham continued.
He turned to Theodore Roosevelt.
"My friend, that right belongs to you." Lincoln said, giving him his hand.
Roosevelt was surprised but grasped Lincoln's hand in a very manly handshake.
"Hell yeah!" Selira cheered.
"Coming from you, a man I've always considered my hero and a national role model, there's no greater honor." Teddy added.
Phearl seemed a little disappointed. Abraham Lincoln took her in his arms.
"Don't worry Phearl, he'll win for me and all of us."
"Yes, I will be the man in the arena." Roosevelt added.
This remark took Selira by surprise.
"The madman, he has just referenced himself. I wish I was cool enough to do that."
Teddy began to put some shackles, bound to his wrists and ankles.
"What's this?" Selira asked.
"You'll see, and you'll love it." answered the president with a smirk.
Druca placed her hands on Phearl and Selira's backs.
"Well, go and join the stands. I'll see you soon."
The two young girls left the room, while Druca remained with the two American presidents.
The arena had been completely remodeled for this third round. It's much more sinister now, as if from the underworld. The ground is black and floats in the air above a seemingly bottomless abyss.
"You're not dreaming." Rhymus came out of nowhere with black wings on his back. "This is the arena for round three!"
Selira and Phearl returned to their usual places.
"That arena... it gives me the creeps." Phearl says in a low voice.
"Wimp."
Druca joined them, accompanied by Abraham Lincoln. Selira smiled at him, feeling reassured.
"Humanity is in desperate straits and must win this battle at all costs to stay in the race!" Rhymus shouts. "Let's see which human will give all he has to grant this victory!"
The door on the human side opens and a passageway of platforms from the abyss creates a way to the arena.
"There have been many leaders throughout human history, but none like this man!" started Rhymus. "He was able to develop both a strong mind and body to defend his country with all his might!"
Under each of the president's footsteps, the platforms dropped a few centimeters.
"Ornithologist, historian, cowboy, police chief, politician, war hero, hunter and, above all, president… this man has no limits! The Bull Moose himself rough riding down in the arena, 26th President of the United States of America here's... THEODORE ROOSEVELT!"
Although he wore the same brown suit jacket and clay-colored shirt, his morphology had greatly changed. His clothes were on the verge of tearing. Roosevelt continued walking until he reached the center of the arena and looked out over the stands.
"What's up, BITCHES!" he shouts
"Fuck yeah I love this man!" Selira cheered from the stands.
This didn't seem to please the gods.
"Who does he think he is?"
"What an odious person!"
Rhymus clears his throat.
"And now, here is the representative of the gods!"
The door opens and a gloomy aura emerges.
"He is evil incarnate, and I have no other definition to give you. Opposed to the heavens, he led a rebellion against the gods with the help of other fallen angels! Now a demon reigning over legions in hell, he possesses every vice from manipulation to deceit and even lust! The angelic demon, BELIAL!"
But no one comes out of that door.
"Ladies and gentlemen... I feel embarrassed to say this, but it looks like Belial... has backed out?" Rhymus announced.
Many in the stands, gods and humans alike, began to murmur. A macabre smoke began to spread from the gods' gate. A person in a purple tails coat stepped out.
"If this creep wants to keep everyone waiting, I see myself obliged to enter the stage to entertain the crowd!" said the person, dancing and twirling a cane in his hand.
"And you are?" Theodore asked.
"Embodiment of death, grave guide, ladies' man but above all a lover of cigars and the best rum possible. In short, Baron Samedi, at your service, Mr. President." he said, bowing with great class.
Phearl's legs are starting to shake.
"Wh-What's going on Druca?"
"Him... a real mystery... this reaction is quite normal." replied the goddess, surprised like everyone else by the baron's appearance.
In the gods' stands, Dionysus seemed delighted.
"Here's a man who appreciates real drinks."
Baron Samedi lights a cigar while holding a glass of rum in his hand. He's wearing a purple hat, like his coat, adorned with a small animal skull. His skin is black and a skull pattern is visible on his face. His glasses have only one black lens left. His pants and shirt are a lighter shade of purple and his gold cane is topped by another skull.
"Hey you, little fucker." a woman says from the stands. It's Maman Brigitte, the baron's wife. "You'd better stay alive or I'll kill you before that human does!"
Baron Samedi waves at his wife with a huge charming smile.
"Let me guess, your wife?" the president asked.
"Yes, charming, isn't she?" He takes a sip of rum. "Well, you should say hello to yours too, because in a few minutes she'll be a widow."
Theodore laughed and turned to his wife, Edith, who was behind him in the stands.
"I won't let her see me die a second time."
"How touching. I remember when you died, I was the one who took you to your death. You were sleeping like a big baby." the baron put his cigar back in his mouth.
"What cowardice, but today I'm awake and ready to fight death."
A man in the stands smiled at this line: Thomas R. Marshall, Vice President of the United States at the time of Theodore Roosevelt's death, famous for having said "Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight"
"This round promise to be very interesting!" Rhymus spoke up again. "The new headline for this fight is Theodore Roosevelt for the humans and Baron Samedi for the gods! Are you ready? Then fight!"
Rhymus blows his horn as he does at the start of every fight.