For a few stunned seconds, everything fell into a heavy silence.
And then—
BOOM!
A terrifying new sound wave ripped through the sky, making even the massive arena tremble.
This level of combat wasn't just a duel; it was a pure visual feast for the battle-hardened Asgardians.
They didn't care if Thor was getting utterly overwhelmed.
They only cared about one thing—
The thrill and excitement of battle.
In just those few dazzling seconds, the entire arena exploded into roars of excitement.
"Now this is what I call fighting, hahahaha!"
"Incredible! Absolutely brutal! I'm drunk on this fighting style!"
"So this is the Goddess of Judgment?!"
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Thor can't even land a hit! I've never seen anything like it!"
The ferocity of Bella's fighting style—her relentless pursuit, the overwhelming speed, the crushing visual impact of sheer strength—left the entire crowd breathless.
It wasn't just a battle; it was an unstoppable force overwhelming a future king.
Loki practically jumped out of his seat, cheering wildly.
But he wasn't cheering for Bella.
Oh no—
He was cheering for the sheer satisfaction of watching his foolhardy brother get beaten into the dirt.
To Loki, anyone who could flatten Thor was worthy of endless applause.
Queen Frigga, meanwhile, watched with a complicated gaze.
It was a little painful seeing her son being beaten so thoroughly…
And yet—
There was no anger.
Only increasing appreciation for Bella.
The entire audience's eyes were glued to the center of the arena where smoke and dust hung heavily.
Step. Step.
Through the thick smoke, the clear sound of metal boots striking the stone floor echoed.
Though the figure inside remained hidden, the weight of her presence could be felt.
Across from the cloud of smoke, Thor struggled to his feet.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth; his blonde hair was disheveled.
For the first time in years, the God of Thunder looked genuinely battered.
Yet instead of anger or frustration, there was something else flashing in his blue eyes—
Pure exhilaration.
Fixing his gaze into the swirling smoke, Thor licked his lips.
"This... THIS is what makes battle exciting!"
Within moments, the sky itself seemed to react to Thor's swelling fighting spirit.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
Thunder cracked through the heavens.
Silver lightning snakes twisted and coiled through the churning black clouds.
The head of Mjolnir sparked and crackled with raw power, small explosions of static bursting from its surface.
Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind swept outward from Thor, stirring the arena.
BOOM!
Thor raised Mjolnir high above his head, calling forth a thick bolt of lightning that surged downward from the sky with earth-shaking force.
RUMBLE!!
The entire world seemed to plunge into darkness under the oppressive energy.
Every eye locked onto the thick bolt of celestial lightning.
But then—
WHOOSH!!!
A dazzling golden torrent erupted from the battlefield below, blasting away the lingering smoke and racing straight toward the falling lightning bolt.
The golden torrent and the heavenly lightning collided mid-air!
The arena was flooded with blinding golden and silver light, forcing many in the crowd to shield their eyes.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The collision of energies sent out waves of sheer destruction.
Howling gusts tore through the arena.
If not for the powerful energy barriers surrounding the battlefield, much of the audience would have been swept away or worse.
Even so, the duel arena shook violently under the onslaught.
Out beyond the island, the seas churned into a frenzy.
Thor's grip tightened on Mjolnir, sweat beading on his forehead as he stared at the clash of forces above.
"This isn't good..." he muttered under his breath.
The oppressive pressure bearing down on him was like a mountain.
Thor felt a cold chill run down his spine.
And then—
The golden torrent pierced through the heavenly lightning.
It forced its way straight into the clouds above, tearing through the storm itself.
In seconds, the once-ominous storm clouds were utterly annihilated, leaving a blindingly clear sky behind.
Everyone stared slack-jawed at the sight.
"She... She scattered the celestial phenomena Thor summoned?!"
In the spectator stands, Volstagg was so shocked he didn't even notice the massive wine glass slipping from his fingers, splashing golden liquid everywhere.
Fandral and Sif wore equally stunned expressions.
Even Queen Frigga, who had witnessed countless battles in her lifetime, couldn't help but feel amazed.
The golden torrent's energy wasn't just overwhelming.
It was catastrophic.
If that energy had been allowed to keep growing unchecked, it could easily wipe out an entire planet.
And terrifyingly—
Even Thor, the future King of Asgard, couldn't match it.
Frigga's expression turned serious.
"If I didn't know she carried the blood of the old gods..." she murmured to herself, "I would think she was the direct descendant of some celestial deity."
This girl—
If she grew to her full potential, she might even rival the Heavenly Father-level beings.
Frigga was certain of it now.
And beyond that, she had learned enough about Bella to know:
This girl wasn't a slave to power.
She pursued strength with all her heart—
But she would never let it control her.
There was something else, something deeper—perhaps a grudge, a hatred, or an attachment—that drove her onward.
Frigga wasn't sure what it was.
But it didn't matter.
Bella's future was brighter than even Thor's.
Frigga sighed quietly to herself.
What a pity.
Such an extraordinary girl, and yet she showed no interest in Loki.
If only circumstances had been different... Frigga would have welcomed her as a daughter-in-law with open arms.
Still, even if not by marriage, Bella was now tightly connected to Asgard.
That bond could prove critical in the future.
Frigga's heart settled slightly at the thought.
Meanwhile, Thor, oblivious to everyone's inner thoughts, clenched Mjolnir tighter.
The golden torrent dissipated at last, and sunlight returned to the arena.
Standing before him—
Bella.
The black long sword, the Black Oath of Victory, rested loosely in her right hand.
Her silver hair drifted slightly in the breeze.
Her crimson eyes held no warmth—only ruthless indifference.
The pressure rolling off her was so suffocating Thor found himself breathing harder just to stay standing.
She was strong.
Unbelievably strong.
Stronger in every conceivable way—
Her raw strength surpassed his.
Her speed was beyond what his eyes could fully track.
Her reaction speed, her agility... everything.
Thor struggled to find any flaw.
As if sensing his hesitation, Bella tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faintly mocking smile.
Thor felt despair whisper in his heart for the first time.
This was no simple sparring match.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
Bella, calm and merciless, gave him just two seconds.
And then—
BOOM!!!
She moved.
The ground exploded beneath her boots, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
A blinding airwave burst forth from her.
In a heartbeat, she crossed the distance between them.
Her black sword shimmered under the sun, and in the blink of an eye—
Thor could see her.
Right there in front of him.
The blade already descending toward him with an unstoppable force.
The overwhelming pressure crushed down like a mountain.
Thor's eyes widened, his body instinctively moving to block—
But he knew—
He was too slow.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31