Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Baldr: Odin's Son
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When it comes to Norse mythology, the gods that first spring to mind are Odin and Thor, of course.
In fact, they were so wildly popular that they split the Norse world between east and west.
Maybe because they're father and son, but they had a lot in common.
Both treated as war gods, sharing that distinctive dual nature.
Odin was the god of death, but also of healing.
Thor was Norse mythology's mightiest warrior, yet also the god of farmers—and fertility too.
Depicted as war gods, their worship split along noble and commoner lines.
Thor was even revered as the chief god in some regions...
In the end, Odin—the nobles' god—endured as the main deity.
Anyway, no other gods could match Odin and Thor's fame or symbolism.
The first game in the series was even named Thor: Odin's Son.
Their back-to-back boss fights capped off the previous game's finale.
With that level of popularity, they were perfect to headline the series finale.
...Though I never dreamed they'd make it the true final boss without DLC.
Unlike that father-son duo who looked so alike, there was one god depicted entirely differently.
The only one bold enough to challenge Odin and Thor's prestige.
Son of Odin and Frigg.
God of light and justice.
The god slain by a mistletoe twig—Mistletoe.
Even shedding bloody tears in the mountain breeze, the man remained breathtakingly beautiful.
Baldr yanked the spear from his heart and aimed it at the player, roaring.
He wouldn't go alone.
He'd drag the curse on his kin along with him.
If Odin and Thor were the mightiest Aesir gods, Baldr was the kindest.
Beautiful looks, silver tongue, unwavering righteousness.
Baldr was the god loved by all.
And, paradoxically...
The boss most hated by players.
"Baldr: Odin's Son was the final boss."
For elementary-school Lee Jin-cheol, brimming with physical confidence, it was his first real wall.
I reminisced fondly about the past.
It was insane.
Was there ever trashier trash mob than Baldr?
That bad.
Even now, thinking back floods me with fresh memories.
Wake up in the morning, slam my head against it; lunch, slam; dinner, still slamming—finally beat it, that rush...
But hey, that's over ten years ago.
Mistletoe-weakened setting? Felt neutered.
"Reunion was a total letdown... Infamous boss in the prequel, but time is cruel."
"Prequel required offsets or damage wouldn't stick."
"Constant iframes, reflect damage, no groggy means no damage—gimmick boss. Patterns were pure rock-paper-scissors from one to ten."
"I was in elementary back then... Banged my head against it all day. Good times."
"Think I was pro from kindergarten? Come to think, Baldr-sensei taught me offsets."
"Infamous Baldr folds to one Mistletoe. Who'd think 'that guy' would end up mid-boss fodder..."
"Ugh. Tea."
Phase 1 ended absurdly easily.
Leaned back against the chair, stretching.
Hmm. All that fuss over this? Impressive.
Mashed keys to skip cutscene.
Phase 2? Same deal.
Casual playthrough, gone in a flash.
Expected more from the infamy. Disappointing.
Worse: Baldr's the strongest of the has-beens.
Rest were even worse.
Final boss? Straw man.
Alas, has-been Baldr fell.
Chat still freaking out.
Joking? Serious?
Ask manager later.
End's near—blitz it and clock out.
Next, gatekeeper Valkyrie.
Another balance fail.
Patterns bland, HP too low.
Just RP flair.
"Uwaaah!! Senpai made it here?!"
"I'll send you home!!"
Yeeted senpai to Valhalla lightly.
Sipped drink by desk.
Manager said hydrate—big pack's empty already.
Talking tons dries throat fast.
Push to final boss, snag broadcast ban.
"Alright, final boss Hel."
Final boss bland too.
Prequel's Thor-Odin was peak—makes this look worse.
Trend: weak base game finals, good DLC?
"Base Hel's a unique take. Loki and Odin's daughter."
"Not canon. Odin's Son series original—Odin's Daughter, Loki's too."
"Who’s mom or dad? Debated."
"MCU fans might not know—Loki's canonically a famous perv. Shapeshifts for giants, horses, etc. Sleipnir, Odin's ride? Loki's kid. Odin's famous for genderbending too..."
TMI deep dive as final fight drags—mission fail alert.
Speedrun timed out, sadly.
One diehard viewer bet big on record—failed. Call 'em Chairman (real).
Ignoring chat could've broken it, but that's not the point.
Hel flopped balance but graphics shine.
Failed anyway—showed all patterns, smashed.
"Boss too boring. Nothing to do."
"Vanilla's like that."
Nah, it's teasing but fun.
Stopped mid-reply.
Broadcast-wise, better angle?
RPing vet corpse—ham it up.
"King God Weeb Modders will hook us up with boss buffs."
End credits roll.
Skipped cutscenes but no record—BGM it.
Check clock: over planned time.
Time flew.
Disoriented, lost track.
Planned chat/song wrap—time iffy.
More fun than expected.
Why so fun?
Pondered, answer hit.
Right. Had to be.
Blab Odin's Son all day, viewers eat it up?
What is this? Heaven?