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3rd Pov
" Damn it!", Brunhilde smashed the table as she thought of humanity's defeat. The loss of her another sister hurt her deeply, but something else stung her more. A human fought for humanity's downfall and achieved it. Where she and her sisters dedicated their lives for humanity's survival, fighting alongside the brave heroes of humanity, one of humanity fought against them for Gods nonetheless!
" S-Sister what should we do now? If Lord Poseidon desires... Then we will lose", asked the youngest of all Valkyrie. Brunhilde paused... a momentarily silence enveloped the room.
" We shall fight... There are no other options right now... Humanity is now totally on the mercy of Gods, however we will not despair! It will be an insult to those who fought and fell for Humanity's survival"
Her reply earned a determined look from Göll. However, what next happened made them again question their chances. Soon, the news of Poseidon requesting a rematch with Kojiro spread like wildfire in the Heavens. Humanity had no choice but to yield to the request, lest they feel the wrath of God of the Gods.
Now, in the stadium stood Heimdall as a referee. The fall of the Odin and Thor did a huge blow to Norse Pantheon and so the Valkyries, with Poseidon taking the seat of the strongest God in Heavens, his mere whim could end Ragnarök, however he didn't try anything like that so the matches were to proceed though not before fulfilling his request.
" Gods and Humans! Are you ready for another Clash between God of the Seven Seas and a human mongrel?!"
"YESSSSS!!!", cheered the Gods while Humanity looked with slight despair.
They were angry, unhappy at the decision for rematch- It was as if a mockery of all of their efforts to survive was made. God could end humanity anytime... Now that a new God has taken reign over the others. As they were despairing, Kojiro re-appeared in the stadium. But as if to mock him, Heimdall made no announcement over his identity.
Only when the stadium trembled, and Lord Poseidon appeared on the other side of the battlefield did his lips moved.
" Here comes the One who defied death, returned from Niflhel itself! Behold the God of the Gods, the strongest of all realms! Loooorrrd! POSEIDON!", he announced.
" Poseidon! Poseidon! Poseidon!"
Cheers of Gods filled the stadium drowning the voices of Humanity, contrary to the first time he battled against Kojiro, where every god feared him. Yet now when he returned stronger, they were cheering... not because they admired him but because they feared him. He received utmost respect from all of them, lest they bear his wrath.
Poseidon summoned his trident and tapped it lightly in the ground. A small wave of divinity flowed through every God, and next moment their cheers died down.
" Silence", Poseidon said, his voice being heard by every being. The stadium was filled with an eery silence only to be broken by the cheers of his wives," You can do it Lord Poseidon!", Jeanne cheered as she waved her Holy Flag, her expression was cute, Jalter not to be outdone summoned her own Demonic Flag and waved her flag cheering him.
' Cute...', Poseidon nodded not minding the fact they were waving flags as if surrendering themselves. Well, they are airheads... his cute airheads. He waved towards them with a smile, earning even a louder cheer from them. Kojiro seeing this couldn't help but be surprised. This was the first time he had seen such a gentle side of the God.
" We meet again Poseidon, you seem different... I guess my tag of failure never left me", said Kojiro with sadness etched on his face. He sighed and looked at the human contestants, they were confused, horrified, some were in despair, yet hope lingered within them, that he would win again. But only he knew himself, how much of a dream it was.
" Kojiro, or Sasaki. The day you killed me... I was angry, I wondered how an insect killed me? How I fell to a mere human? But then... calmness enveloped me, I realized, I finally realized it was my own mistake. I shamed myself by not giving my all, I shamed my brothers by fighting half-hearted. This time there won't be any such mistake", Poseidon said summoning his Trident however, he did something unexpected.
He planted the base of the Trident on the floor, outside the stadium. Gods and Mortals drew a breath confused, meanwhile Poseidon chuckled much to Kojiro's confusion. He instead summoned a western sword, and in Kojiro's incredulous gaze pointed it towards him." This time I will fight with a sword, how about it?"
" Yo... You, it seems you haven't forgotten about your death", Kojiro sighed, after all Poseidon's intention was clear. To fight an honourable sword, fight and regain his honor. Kojiro could see it, unlike previously where the thoughts of the God were extremely foreign to him. He wanted to win in Sasaki's own expertise.
" Of course not, it is not every day I die. The only other time I have died till now is under the wrath of the Mother", he said hinting to his fight with Tiamat. Meanwhile Gods now remained silent carefully hearing Poseidon's and Kojiro's words. They were confused whom to Poseidon was referring and Kojiro unsheathed Hrist.
" Well, she must be really strong to kill you... Though I don't know why you call her mother", said Kojiro, and Poseidon chuckled," It's simple, she is mother of all. Though I shall share this tale some other time. Now we shall begin", he took a battle stance and so did Kojiro.
" Begin!", Heimdall announced waving the flag, and so the battle begin.
...
Previously, it was Poseidon that had taken an aggressive stance, however this time it was Kojiro's turn. He took an aggressive stance and used Ganryu Style, Tsubame Gaeshi. He slashed towards Poseidon with his full might, the descent of the sword broke through sword barrier, Poseidon didn't tried to dodge, however his sword moved.
Like a flow of river it gently deflected the attack, making Kojiro stunned, he quickly took several steps back. ' Was it a good idea to attack him first? ', asked Hrist. Kojiro meanwhile said,' His sword style is unlike what I have ever seen, the way he deflected one of my strongest sword moves as if it was nothing... It was like the flow of a river! Undoubtedly his style is-'
" Water God Style", Poseidon said revealing his sword style "In this world only I know of this sword style, not even the sword God knows this style", he revealed. Meanwhile Kojiro stood stunned,' Did he just create an entire new sword style to take revenge on me? And here I thought he had changed ', he mused.
' Kojiro! It isn't time to be amused! If what he is saying is true then that makes him an unpredictable opponent! ', said Hrist and then added, ' Should I divide into two swords and unleash my dual personality? '
' Nope, it is not required ', Kojiro stepped forward,' For I have deduced it! ', he replied. His body a blur, reached next to Poseidon and he slashed towards him. Again, Poseidon used Flow to return the attack to Kojiro, however Kojiro stopped his attack. Their blades met and released sparks. The ground below them cracked as a sonic boom was released from their clash.
" Haha! Just one attack! It is all took for you to deduce my technique and come with an aftermath. Kojiro Sasaki! Our battle will be legendary", Poseidon laughed, his wives meanwhile remained silent emersed in his battle against his fated foe, one who have said to slay the God of the Gods once. While the Gods remained silent, humanity started cheering for Sasaki.
" Sister, incredible! Why do I think he is much stronger than before?", Goll looked at Kojiro impressed. Even Brunhilde was shocked, much less her sister and soon she understood," After fighting with Poseidon last time... Kojiro has broken his limits, transcended his past self. He can now continuously analyze what is happening! He is now a human Supercomputer!", she said, herself shocked.
Meanwhile the battle between Poseidon and Kojiro intensified. Both of them moved a few steps back before clashing against. Their bodies became a blur as they clashed against each other, their blades clashed with each other thousands of times each second. Their mere movements left shockwaves in their awake.
This was just the beginning, Kojiro used Ganryu style! Torakiri! He held the sword in a reverse grip and delivered a powerful sideways slash! Poseidon meanwhile countered with his own technique, Water Slash, like a stream of water, he slashed, both of their swords met and-
*BOOM*
The shockwave produced threw Poseidon a few steps back, however Kojiro was thrown back further, he flipped his airborne body and regained his footing. Blood seeped out of his torso, showing he had been injured while Poseidon remained unharmed. ' Are you alright Sasaki?! ', Hrist asked him worried, while he coughed.
' I am better than ever! Hrist, I need the dual swords now! ', he grinned and responding to his wish Völundr became the dual swords Re Völundr and the dual personalities of Valkryie Hrist were unleashed. He finally relaxed a looked at the stadium, which had a deep slash cutting through the middle of the broken floor, showing the power of the Poseidon's attack.
" It's time, I take it serious!", Poseidon revealed a grin. Seeing that grin the cheering humanity stopped, it was the same grin he gave when Kojiro had harmed him for the first time during the previous battle!
Hundred Pieces Water Strike!
Poseidon charged towards Kojiro and released Hundreds of Slashes towards his direction. For a second it almost seemed like time stopped, Kojiro's eyes widened. It was similar to Medusa Alope Demeter! However, it was with a sword and nature of the attack that were different.
Kojiro analyzed, each and every attack that Poseidon unleashed, and finally choose an optimal response, his hands became a blur as he parried all the sword slashes, Poseidon's attack became fiercer, like a raging tsunami it hit Kojiro, wounds started appearing all over Kojiro's body. However just like Poseidon's attack, his response became faster, at some time they reached stalemate before Kojiro unleashed.
Hundred Pieces Thunder Strike!
He did the impossible, he created a technique to counter Poseidon's technique in midst of the battle, contrary to Poseidon's defensive techniques it was like roaring thunder. He slashed towards Poseidon thousands of times, soon Poseidon found himself at a disadvantage. Wounds started appearing all over his body, the situation reversed.
" Lord Poseidon!", Jalter couldn't help but cry out, see was almost ready to cleave the mortal who dared to wound her Lord into two when Scathach grabbed her hand," Let me go! I will cleave that insect into two! How dare he hurt my Poseidon!", her voice reeked of venom. To her Poseidon was everything, her entire world literally revolved around him. So him getting hurt, meant she was hurt.
" Do you think we are blind? We see what is happening, however we must not to interfere. It is our husband's battle and not to mention... He isn't weak", Artoria said, Jalter turned to look at her and saw her fists clenched. Yes, she was barely holding herself back from releasing Rhongomyniad. Jeanne too was worried, and so was Amara. Seeing how the youngest was able to hold herself back, Jalter calmed herself down.
" Sister! Can you believe it? I think Lord Kojiro will win!", Goll said while Brunhilde remained silent. Zeus and Hades meanwhile observed the battle with growing concern," Don't tell me this man is just born to be bane of my brother?", he said as he thought it was too much of a coincidence that Kojiro's techniques were counter to Poseidon's own, whether he used Trident or Sword.
Poseidon meanwhile grinned, seeing the battle turning to Kojiro's favour, he remained unaffected and released the Ultimate Technique, Deprivation Sword Kingdom! He stood static, the sword slashes moved really closed to him, just short of touching his skin when they were deflected.
' What?! ', the thought ran to everyone's mind, most shocked was Kojiro himself. No matter how fast he attacked, no matter from which direction he attacked, even as he started revolving around Poseidon unleashing an Omni-directional attack, Poseidon remained unharmed. But that wasn't his big concern.
' How is he doing this?! ', he thought, if one was to see carefully Poseidon had taken a single stance not moving at all, only his sword moved, but it didn't make sense for the attacks behind him to be deflected, he even increased the speed of his attacks, but everyone was futile.
This defense transcended any direction, any attack. It was Omnidirectional, it was impenetrable. Sasaki couldn't analyze this technique; it was as if it wasn't a technique at all. It was as if Invisible swords guarded Poseidon in the form of water. Kojiro finally stopped his assault, depleted from his relentless attack towards Poseidon.
" It is time to end this", Poseidon spoke and for the first time fear took Kojiro's heart.
Poseidon's sword moved like water, free of any direction, free of any restriction, just like how Kojiro transcended his previous self, so did Poseidon. He had created an anti- Deprivation Sword Kingdom technique, a sure hit attack. It was an unavoidable attack, and Kojiro's left hand was cut off from his body, and a blade stopped near his throat.
" You Lose", Poseidon calmly said, while the stadium remained silent. Kojiro was stunned, and so the Gods before they erupted in a cheer. Humanity while stricken with fear, Gods cheered.
"Poseidon!"
"Poseidon!"
"Poseidon!"
Poseidon took back his sword and unsummoned it," Y- You won't kill me?", asked Sasaki extremely tired, this time he again transcended his limits. Yet so did Poseidon.
"No", his answer shocked the entire stadium, and the cheers died down," In battle of Ragnarök, one of the two participants is eliminated, you have already won that, and humanity's win won't be dismissed, this was a private battle, so I spare you for you have given me the lesson of defeat", he said, shocking Gods.
Poseidon turned and left the stadium. ' Sasaki are you alright?! ', Hrist asked in panic, he nodded,' I have transcended my limits twice now- But he... broke all the goddamn limits ', he replied. So came the end of the rematch, with Poseidon victorious.
To be continued...