As the celestial event commenced, a colossal creature, resembling a flying bull, graced the stage. Sammy couldn't help but voice his cheeky remark, "Couldn't you have picked someone more handsome, like me?" The audience's stares spoke volumes, but no one deigned to respond.
Onstage, a man with long braided hair, bare-chested, and clad in only pants, entered accompanied by two guards whose armor resembled Vamelion's. The man stood next to the bull-like host, Bullhead, who began to address the gathering.
"Today, we witness a mortal transcending into godhood, if he proves worthy," Bullhead announced. A murmur rippled through the audience. Bullhead continued, recounting the mortal's feats of 1300 years in Valhalla, introducing him as Ragna Warton. "Do any of the gods object?" Bullhead asked, and a resounding "no" filled the air.
"Let the show begin!" Bullhead exclaimed before flying out of the ring, leaving Ragna alone. Two angels handed Ragna an Axe and a shield, and then they too departed, leaving only the mortal in the arena.
Bullhead's voice echoed again, seeking divine blessings for Ragna. Odin, Thor, and another god contributed a golden dust that flowed toward Ragna. As the blessings were bestowed, Bullhead declared, "Now that that is out of the way, let us begin."
Seven angels surrounded the arena, conjuring a thick red barrier that turned transparent. Silence enveloped the arena for a moment before the sound of iron clashing pierced the air. Warriors clad in armor and wielding weapons charged toward Ragna like a swarm of ants.
Sammy watched with keen interest, realizing this might foretell his own fate. Ragna, grinning, clashed his axe and shield, moving at an incredible speed. The fight unfolded like a symphony of chaos.
Ragna maneuvered through the onslaught with astonishing agility. His strikes were precise, and opponents fell like leaves in a storm. The transparency of the barrier allowed the audience to witness every move, every clash of weapons, and the determination etched on Ragna's face.
As the first wave fell, Ragna stood in the midst of the arena, preparing for what lay ahead. Suddenly, a monstrous figure emerged, a horror that seemed to defy the laws of nature. The creature approached Ragna with unsettling steps, and a tense hush settled over the audience.
The creature was a grotesque manifestation, a fusion of nightmares. It towered over Ragna, its movements erratic and unnatural. Ragna faced this abomination with courage, showcasing incredible combat prowess. The battle against the horror was a dance of survival, where every strike from Ragna was a calculated move to dismantle the grotesque foe.
Eventually, with a final, mighty swing, Ragna triumphed over the horror. The silence that followed was broken by the roars of the audience, a mix of shock, awe, and reverence.
With the horror defeated, Ragna continued his ascent through the trials. Wave after wave of opponents came at him, each more formidable than the last. His axe cleaved through armor, and his shield blocked attacks with unwavering precision.
As the last opponent fell, Ragna stood amidst the blood-soaked arena, a testament to his unwavering determination and prowess in combat.
Bullhead returned, congratulating Ragna on his triumph. The moment of decision arrived as Bullhead asked, "Which God do you choose to help you transcend?" The arena held its breath.
A palpable tension filled the air as Ragna contemplated his choice. After a prolonged silence, he declared, "I choose Tyr, the god of war." A middle-aged man in black armor, identified as Tyr, rose from his seat and walked to the arena.
Approaching Ragna, Tyr placed a hand on his forehead. The transcendence process began, and Sammy, along with the onlookers, watched in awe and horror. Ragna's bones shifted and realigned, a visual spectacle of divine transformation.
After what felt like an eternity, Ragna stood, rejuvenated and more youthful. The crowd erupted into cheers and chants of "Ragna." Vikings from the other side of the arena hailed their hero.
As the exhilarating spectacle unfolded, a muscular man entered the room and whispered something into Aruara's ear. Her eyes conveyed a sense of sadness as she looked at Sammy. Her words struck a chord, "Sammy, we need to talk."
The echoes of the ascension trials lingered, leaving Sammy with a myriad of emotions and unanswered questions.
.. 🥲😢