Chapter 302
Chapter 302
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 302
Chapter Title: Lightning in Hand
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Hera gazed at Soo-hyuk, who had been standing motionless for a while.
Truly defenseless. His eyes were wide open, but he wasn't aware of anything around him.
What if other gods had been here?
'They wouldn't have left him alone.'
Gazing at Soo-hyuk with the lightning clutched in his hand, she imagined someone lunging at him, demanding it.
But Soo-hyuk hadn't fully obtained the lightning yet. It was hard to say he'd claimed it just because a different phenomenon occurred compared to the other gods.
What on earth was this human in front of her doing?
'Did you really intend to pass this on to a human?'
She knew Zeus had chosen Heracles. That's why she'd tried to save him. Though in the end, she couldn't.
'Why? Was there a reason it had to be a human? Did you always like humans that much?'
She still couldn't understand Zeus.
But she was used to it.
Was there a day or two when she hadn't failed to understand him? Was it even plausible for him to love that many women, logically speaking?
That's what made it so Zeus-like—because she couldn't understand it. It was at that moment.
Tzzzzzt-.
The light of the lightning in Soo-hyuk's hand gradually faded.
Focus returned to his previously opaque eyes. His hollow presence, like a corpse, came back to life, vivid with color.
Soo-hyuk's back came into Hera's view once more.
In that instant, he and Zeus overlapped in her eyes again.
In the brief moment her eyes widened in circles, Soo-hyuk turned around, and their gazes met.
Without unnecessary words, Hera asked,
"Did you obtain it?"
Soo-hyuk showed her instead of answering.
Tzzzzzt-!
Lightning wrapped around Soo-hyuk's body. Like armor, or like water. Hera's eyes trembled at the sight of the electricity softly enveloping him.
Armor clad in lightning.
That was undoubtedly Zeus's symbol.
Tzt, tzt-.
Soon, the armor around Soo-hyuk's body lost its form and vanished.
He couldn't abuse the lightning he'd just obtained here and now.
Soo-hyuk flexed the hand that had gripped the lightning and turned his head.
"Let's go."
Imagining the faces of the gods they'd meet outside again, Soo-hyuk smiled.
"To show off."
The God of War, Ares.
True to the name that symbolized him, he was always ready for battle, anytime, anywhere.
Helmet in one hand, heavy armor on his body, he'd been locking eyes with someone for a while now.
"I don't like this."
Wriggle-.
Ares was glaring at Thor.
At the entrance to the lightning chamber. Thor stood there, arms crossed, blocking the way.
Even without any particular intent, it looked like a gatekeeper barring the door.
No. Perhaps that was exactly it.
He wasn't avoiding Ares's glare—in fact, he was radiating fighting spirit, as if daring him to come at him.
"You know it."
Ares's sister, Athena, felt Thor's fighting spirit and picked up the shield she'd set on the floor.
"A fight's about to break out here soon."
"That's only if that human obtains Father's lightning, right?"
"He's counting on it."
"A human?"
"He called him a friend. Besides, didn't you hear? That human wields the power of thunder."
The news Hermes had relayed.
A human with the power of thunder had defeated the Hydra.
A human with thunder.
To the gods of Olympus, that was the most dangerous entity they needed to watch.
Perhaps Zeus had intended to pass the lightning to a human. Such speculation was spreading openly.
And if the human chosen by thunder seized the lightning amid all that?
Even if he had no ties to Olympus, no one could predict the outcome.
But to the gods of Olympus, it was also an opportunity.
"Still, if that human pulls out the lightning, we can snatch it too."
He was different from Heracles.
Son of Zeus, legitimate heir. Symbol of Olympus's hero. And overwhelming power surpassing it all.
Heracles had everything, so taking something from him would have been difficult—even the lightning.
But if the opponent was an outsider to Olympus, it was a different story.
It didn't matter what they took from him or how. Above all, he couldn't possibly be stronger than Heracles.
It was then.
"It's over."
Everyone's spines chilled at Hades's words as he looked beyond Thor's back.
It's over.
He had watched from afar what happened inside.
What was the result?
They'd know soon enough. If it was truly over, he'd walk out again.
How long did they wait like that?
Step-.
Footsteps echoed from the lightning chamber.
Thor uncrossed his arms bit by bit. The one who'd stood like a gatekeeper at the entrance turned his back to the gods, facing the direction of the footsteps.
In that moment, the temple fell silent.
They'd expected Hera to appear first, but Soo-hyuk strode out ahead.
Thor grinned.
"You're here."
He extended his loosened hand forward.
Soo-hyuk clasped the hand offering a handshake, his gaze shifting to those behind Thor.
Innumerable gods' eyes turned toward him. Some curious, some shocked.
Thor drove the wedge into their doubt and surprise.
"Knew you'd pull it off."
"Pull it off? I haven't done anything yet."
"Nothing? Kuhahat, hahahaha!"
In the quiet temple, Thor laughed heartily. His booming laughter echoed off the ceiling, and the gods' faces gradually twisted.
They wore expressions of 'How dare he?' No matter that he was the God of Thunder and prince of Asgard, they hadn't expected such laughter in this situation.
"Right. You're correct."
Thor half-turned, facing the gods.
"The real show starts now."
They no longer bothered hiding their hostility.
The gods raised their auras, filling the temple with magical power. Meeting the eyes of gods burning with greed and fire, Soo-hyuk sneered,
"What's with all of you?"
Wriggle-.
Ares reacted first.
"Did you really think I wouldn't be chosen?"
"You insolent—!"
Bam-!
Ares's spear slammed the floor. Shaking the temple, he unleashed his power freely.
Soo-hyuk had spoken, but Ares's gaze remained fixed on Thor.
"A thief who stole Olympus's treasure, and yet so arrogant!"
Despite his words, his target was Thor.
The Olympian gods who knew him had already realized. Throughout the staring contest with Thor, Ares had been holding back.
For hot-tempered, impatient Ares to endure this long meant he'd surpassed his limit ages ago.
"Thief, huh."
Thor smirked, as if he'd seen this coming.
A newly forged Mjolnir was already in his hand.
"Olympians really have no principles. Ignoring even their own king's dying wish like this."
"What?!"
"Ares, shouldn't you respect it more? It was your father's will too."
At Thor's mocking words as he spun the hammer in his hand, Ares lost his reason.
"Ah, is that why you're ignoring it?"
Whoosh-!
In an instant, Ares shot toward Thor.
The spear gripped in both hands thrust at Thor with terrifying force. In the blink of an eye, Ares closed in right before Thor's face.
The strike that could pierce the heavens targeted Thor's side.
Whoosh-.
But Thor's hammer struck his chest first.
Cra-crash-!
"……!!!"
An earthquake erupted from Ares's chest. In his eyes, it felt not like he was flying back, but like the ground was receding.
Thor receded from view. The impact hit his back right after.
Boom-!
Ares crashed into the wall. A gurgling sound escaped his mouth as he was embedded there. Thor, having swung Mjolnir cleanly to send him flying, slung it over his shoulder.
"God of War, my ass."
His gaze next turned to Athena.
Thor knew. Though both were gods of war, the true one was Athena.
"Declaration of war?"
Athena rose, shield in hand.
Aegis.
Athena's shield, said to possess magical power, made by attaching Medusa's severed head.
The moment he saw it, Thor felt the fight was truly beginning.
"Are those eyes just for show? He started it first."
"Impetuous. Foolish."
Athena didn't side with her brother Ares. Now was the time to blame his rashness.
Her opponent was Thor.
Even alone, he was the God of Thunder and a great god representing Asgard.
He wasn't someone they could take down solo. To capture Thor alone, one would need to be one of Olympus's Big Three.
Yet even so.
"Isn't this too reckless?"
Athena couldn't acknowledge Thor.
He was a powerful warrior, but this action didn't suit a prince leading the gods of a nation.
"If you die, Asgard will fall into irreparable chaos, won't it?"
"Probably."
Thor's sneer sliced through the room.
"I can tell just by looking at you all. What Asgard would become without me."
"Such impudence!"
"Do you think you can say anything with that loose mouth?!"
Several gods shouted in frenzy. Thor's words mocked and belittled all of Olympus without Zeus.
But unlike before, no one rushed forward recklessly.
Hadn't they seen clearly? Ares charging only to get smashed by Mjolnir and sent flying in one hit.
But not all gods were intimidated by Thor.
"We……."
Hades stared at Thor, his black eyes glinting.
"Have no intention of handing the lightning to you."
Whoosh-.
A cold wind blew through the temple, extinguishing the torches. The bright light vanished, replaced by darkness.
That darkness targeted Thor and Soo-hyuk.
The two felt it.
This darkness disadvantaged only them. What should have been impartial was now taking sides.
This wouldn't be easy. Thanks to Hades opening fire, even the gods somewhat wary of Thor grew bold.
"Do you really think you can fight us all alone?"
At the arrogant tone, Thor chuckled.
"……Laughing?"
"All of you spouting nonsense—I'm tired of even talking."
Tzzzzzt-.
A small light emanated from behind Thor.
The light pushed back the darkness. A minor phenomenon, but the watching gods frowned.
They'd momentarily forgotten due to Thor's overwhelming presence.
"Why do you think I'm alone?"
He wasn't alone.
"My best partner is right here."
Bam-.
Bzzzzt-!
Soo-hyuk slammed his spear into the floor. Like a torch repelling darkness, light and electricity burst from it, shooting up to the temple ceiling.
"Drag him back alive."
Hades issued the command.
With that signal, the gods of Olympus charged at Soo-hyuk.