Two burly blond men, bare-chested and powerful, stood in the arena, staring each other down.
A terrifying aura radiated from them, spreading across the entire coliseum.
Above, the sky churned with dark, roiling clouds. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to press down on the crowd, leaving them breathless. The clouds twisted violently, streaked with thunder and crimson lightning that clashed and danced in chaos.
Suddenly, a gale roared through the arena.
Boom!
The ground trembled as though the end of the world had arrived. Yet, rather than fear, the people in the stands of Asgard were ignited with uncontainable excitement.
"Thor! Thor! Thor!"
"Sumarokov! Sumarokov! Sumarokov!"
Their thunderous chants echoed through the heavens, mingling with the storm above. It was a call that seemed to resonate through the long history of Asgard, awakening ancient heroic spirits. The earth shook, the air rippled, and an indomitable fighting spirit surged in every heart.
In the center of it all, Thor and Sumarokov's battle fervor reached its peak.
Boom!
Thor, unable to restrain himself, roared and charged forward, his body crackling with lightning.
Sumarokov responded instantly, leaping toward him with equal ferocity.
The distance of a hundred meters vanished in an instant. The two figures collided with an explosion of airwaves. There was no dodging, no technique—only raw, unyielding force.
When their fists met, the sound was like a thunderclap, shaking the very foundations of the arena. The shockwave blasted through the coliseum, sending younger spectators tumbling and even the adults struggling to keep their footing. The wind stung their faces, forcing many to shield themselves.
When the gale subsided, all eyes turned eagerly to the battlefield.
The ground beneath Thor and Sumarokov was cracked and shattered, a spiderweb of destruction spreading outward. A kilometer-wide section of the arena had sunk under the weight of their clash. Between them, arcs of electric blue and blood-red lightning danced, crackling and exploding without pause.
The force of their blows sent waves of air rippling outward in relentless bursts.
Thor's blood boiled as his fighting spirit surged. Despite sensing that Sumarokov might hold the upper hand in raw strength, he only grinned. This was the battle he had craved—a contest of pure, unrelenting power.
Sumarokov, for his part, was astonished by Thor's resilience and growth. He had thought he'd already seen the Thunder God's limits, but Thor's strength continued to rise as the fight wore on.
"This will be interesting," Sumarokov thought, his sharp eyes gleaming with crimson intensity.
With a roar, Sumarokov channeled his power into his arms and swung mightily. Under Thor's surprised gaze, he delivered a devastating left hook to Thor's cheek.
Bang!
Thor staggered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as his body arched backward. Yet, rather than falter, he roared in defiance, twisting his body in an impossible motion to strike back.
Sumarokov saw the blow coming—his battle instincts warned him of it—but he chose not to dodge. Instead, he took the punch head-on, letting it land squarely on his chest.
Bang!
The impact rippled through his muscles, but Sumarokov stood firm. Without hesitation, he retaliated with a relentless barrage of punches, each strike landing with bone-shaking force. Thor countered blow for blow, their fists a blur of raw, primal power.
The sound of their strikes was deafening, each hit resonating like an explosion. The air was thick with dust and debris as the ground continued to crumble beneath them. Cracks spread further, and stones were flung skyward by the force of their battle.
The crowd was wild with passion, their cheers reaching a fever pitch. Hundreds of thousands of Asgardians stood, arms raised, faces flushed with exhilaration. They roared, their voices blending into a chorus of unrestrained fervor.
It had been far too long since they'd witnessed a battle like this—a clash of titans, a contest of fists and flesh. For years, Thor had been unmatched, his strength unparalleled. But now, a worthy rival stood before him, and the crowd was enthralled by the spectacle.
Despite their injuries, neither Thor nor Sumarokov retreated. Their blows landed with the force of avalanches, blood and sweat flying as they refused to back down. The ground beneath them continued to collapse, but they remained unyielding, locked in a battle of wills.
This was the essence of combat—raw, visceral, and magnificent. A display of strength and courage that stirred the soul. For the people of Asgard, this was romance.
...
Hey everyone, I got exams this month so updates will be slightly irregular for 20 days. Things will be back to normal then. By irregular, well, you'd get 14-15 Chapters for the next 20 days instead of 20, that's all.