It had been around forty minutes since Bathala had invaded the annual meeting at the Parliament Building, and all had left except for Goll. The Youngest Valkyrie sat with her hands in head, groaning to herself. "What on Earth do I do!" She asked herself. Under an hour ago, humanity looked to have bought themselves a further 1,000 years, and now history would be doomed to repeat itself with a second Ragnarok.

After the events of the first Ragnarok, Goll had more or less done a good job of stepping up after her big sister's death, but this seemed like an unwinnable battle. For starters, only six of the Valkyries sisters were still alive. Even if she were to enlist the help of her surviving sisters, and won all six rounds of the first rounds somehow, they'd have no hope against the weapons of the Gods moving forward from that. Goll's mind was running a mile a minute trying to come up with any strategies, when he appeared.

"Hello, Ms Goll." The voice greeted, as Goll turned her head to view the man who was now bowing.

"H-Hermes? What are you doing here?" Goll asked, as the man looked up at him and smiled.

Twelve Gods of Olympus

Hermes (Greek)

"I'm here on business, before the conference I found this letter in my room with your name on it." Hermes slipped his hand into his blazer pocket, and handed Goll an envelope, and bowed once more before making his way out. "Oh, and Ms Goll, one more thing." He turned to face her, with a rare serious expression. "Make sure you win once again, its what Zeus-Sama would've wanted." He added, before making his exit.

"Oh, yes...sure..." She told him, slightly shaken up. Goll opened the envelope, and gasped at the contents. "There's no way...another way to give humanity Divine Weapons!?" She said aloud, before running out of the room.

Elsewhere watching Goll from the shadows, a certain figure smiled. "Go forth Goll, find her." He said, before also leaving the conference hall.

Aegean Sea

Island of Lemnos

Goll, after finally arriving on the volcanic Island, Goll made her way to Hephaestus' workshop, and knocked on the door, to which he opened it. The man who opened the door was the man himself. He was tall, a bald man with a scruffy ginger beard. He wore a red leather apron, with a toga underneath, and sandals, and was also relatively on the heavier side.

"Well, if it isn't Goll! What brings you all the way here?" Hephaestus chuckled as he allowed the girl inside.

Twelve Gods of Olympus

Hephaestus (Greek)

"It's been a while, Sir Hephaestus." The Valkyrie greeted with a smile, as she made her way into his workshop. "I'd only wish that I could've come here under a more positive pretence." The girl sighed.

"Ah, yes..." The God of Blacksmithing simply said, stroking his beard, "I had heard about what happened at the conference, a second Ragnarok tournament and Bathala making his return? It's definitely something. If you're here to ask for my help with Divine Weapons, I'm afraid I won't be of much service to you there, I wouldn't be able to make thirteen in a week, and that's even assuming you know right now who's going to compete!"

"Oh, no Sir Hephaestus, I'm actually here for..."Goll paused before continuing. "Pandora."

Hephaestus said nothing in response to that, raising an eyebrow instead. "How...do you know about my daughter?"

"Well, it was given to me in this note, that she would be able to help in the second Ragnarok."

"I'm sorry Goll, but Pandora cannot leave this island. There's no knowing what the other Gods would do to her!"

"Bu-But, I wouldn't be here if I had any other way, humanity is at stake here!"

"I'm sorry, but the life of my da-" Hephaestus was cut off, as someone else spoke.

"Father, it is okay." They turned to see a woman in the corner of the doorway. The woman had her black hair tied in a bun, with white hair pins going through it, that complimented her long black toga, contrasting her white sandals, pure white necklace and jewellery. "I cannot stand aside again as the Gods intend to harm humanity, I did it once before. Goll, I will offer you assistance in the upcoming Ragnarok.

The Bearer of Blessings & Curses

Pandora (Greek)

"But Pandora, the Gods!?" Hephaestus called back.

"It is okay, I heard that Zeus is currently out of commission, so I should be okay. And currently if I assume right, my aims are aligned with theirs right now." She waved off her father.

Hephaestus went to say more, but sighed instead. "I didn't know I created you to be as stubbon as me. Very well."

"Thank you Hephaestus!" Goll beamed, going in to hug the God, who chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"Alright now, we have a lot to discuss don't we?" Pandora smiled, as Goll nodded.

1 week later

Valhalla Arena, VIP Area

Bathala was sitting in the main chair in the VIP Area, looking down at his tablet viewing the roster he had selected. "Hmm, certainly some interesting choices there." Bathala suddenly looked up to see one of the Gods who are currently residing in the VIP area staring down at him. The God had a smug grin, with tattoos across his face, was slightly tanned compared to the other Gods, had flowing black hair with red, orange, and green flowers along the hair, and those matching flowers making a lei across his neck. He wore no shirt, and instead a ripped green handkerchief around the bottom of neck, and a straw skirt along his sandals.

"Kane, I'm glad to see you made it." Bathala said. "And I'd implore you not to look down in me in such a way."

Three Major Gods

Kane (Hawaii)

"Sorry Bathala!" Kane gave him a salute and bowed, before taking his seat with a chuckle. "Say, where's Nuwa? She's gonna miss the opening at this point!"

"That is her business." Bathala said, not looking up from his tablet. "Now, this roster can officially be sent." Bathala tapped a button at the bottom, confirming his roster

Roster of the Gods

Vidar

Kratos

Horus

Zhong Kui

Eros

Hanuman

Inari

Mithra

Kamohoali'i

Bathala

Alignak

Arawn

?

"By the way, what is that mystery slot you're hiding over there?" Kane asked, slouching down in his seat.

"That, is an insurance policy." Bathala informed him.

"Oh?" Kane raised an eyebrow, before laughing. "It appears this tournament is going to be more interesting than I thought."

Valhalla Arena

Humanity Waiting Area

Goll, Pandora and Hephaestus sat in a long room, with a giant round table in the middle containing thirteen seats, currently with each other.

"Are you ladies sure about this roster? I'd argue there's definitely some better choices than a few of them." Hephaestus asked, as he looked at Goll's tablet.

"Yes, I'm sure! Big sis when she created hers took into account all of humanity over the years, and I wanted to make sure we did the same." Goll beamed, confidently.

"You've grown into a strong woman Goll." Hephaestus smiled.

"I must agree, and this is a strong contender list, but after seeing the challengers the Gods are sending, it most definitely will be a tough battle." Pandora added.

"Yes, but we cannot waiver, we must believe in humanity's potential." Goll took a deep breath, before pressing the button at the bottom of her tablet, confirming her list of champions.

Roster of the Humans

Sun Tzu

Lancelot

Henry McCarty

William Marshal

Khutulun

Spartacus

Judas Iscariot

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Shaka Zulu

Maui

John Henry

Ivan Vasilyevich

?

"By the way, what is that mystery slot?" Pandora asked.

"Oh, um, well, I'm not too sure myself actually. When I read the letter it told me to only pick twelve champions." Goll informed them.

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow at this. "Interesting...well, that aside, who do you plan on sending out as the first champion?"

"Taking everything into account, it can only be him." Goll said, pointing to a name on the list, that the two acknowledged.

"My, a bold choice." Pandora stated.

Valhalla Arena

As the Gods and Humans gathered in the seats in the arena, one man walked into the center, and cleared his throat before beginning.

"So, folks, who expected we'd be right back here again!? Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the first round of the second ever Ragnarok! The Bout of Gods vs Humans commences once more with humanity's survival on the line!" Heimdall announced

Guardian of Asgard

Heimdall (Norse)

The Gods cheered and Humans both cheered, as Heimdall temporarily waited. Kane and Bathala watched on, the former with an excited smile and the latter with a straight face.

"Man, I wish I put myself on the roster." Kane grinned.

"There's no need, a major God such as yourself shouldn't waste time with my trivial matters, humanity will lose, and we will prevail." Bathala stated.

"Hmm, I'm sure that's exactly what Zeus thought would happen last time." Kane added, as Bathala said nothing.

"Man, I really hope your plan works." Goll said to Pandora, as they watched on from the stands of the humanity side.

"Do not worry, it's not exactly Volund, but it should work just as well." Pandora said, in an attempt to ease her tensions.

"Now, let's get this show on the road and meet the fighters of the first round!" Heimdall announced once more. The door on the Gods side creeked open, as they looked over in anticipation to see who would be appearing.

"In all of Greek history, no God has ever personified strength, what it truly means to be strong as much as this God right here! A Son of the Titans who fought against them in favour of the Gods, and is seen as the protector of the throne!"

As the God stepped through the giant door, making his way through the arena a few gasps were heard amongst the crowd.

"His strength? Knows no bounds! His limits? They do not exist? His drive? Indescribable! One of the most loyal Gods to ever exist, swearing to do so in life and in death, it can only be him! KRATOS!"

As Heimdall finished, the Gods broke out into a cheer, and the God stood cross armed on his side. The bald god stood defiantly, his strong muscles available to all, only wearing a loincloth made of iron, with symbols all along it. He had a strong cloudy looking beard, with runic symbol tattoos along the right side of his chest, and iron bangles on both of his sleeves, and a strong red line tattoo going along the left side of his head that went over his eye. In his arms, he had two small, long curved blades that were held to each other by chains.

"Bring my opponent to me." He simply said.

God of Power

Kratos (Greek)

"And now, the vanguard of humanity!" Heimdall announced, gesturing to the other door which opened, as the human champion stepped out. "Beginning his career as a knight from an age as young as twelve, this man outlived three different Kings, spending his life fighting for them all! He worked his way up from a life of poverty to the title of an Earl!"

The man stepped forward, as the humans looked somewhat confused by their champion.

"His service and drive is unmatched, being undefeated since his first battle, he is known as the strongest Knight in human history! The most loyal man that could ever stand by your side! Yes, it is indeed him, William Marshal!"

The humans cheered, but some still maintained their confused expressions.

The man had greying white hair, with a greying beard, he wore a small fur coat amongst his back, that was tied around his neck, with scratches and marks along his face. He sported simple armour on his body and legs, with a yellow and green coat above it, that had a red lion emblem on the chest of the coat. In one hand, he held a mace, and the other, a broadsword.

"Let us have a good battle!" He greeted his opponent.

Representative of Humanity

William Marshal (English)

"It's the most loyal God, vs the most loyal human! Round one is already a crazy match up! Now that the first competitors are introduced, let us waste no time and get this bloodbath started! Round one of Ragnarok...Begin!" Heimdall announced.

Author Note

So I finally decided on the rosters, and I'm pretty pleased with them. I hope you can appreciate the diversity of both of them!