Chapter 1
Minutes before the disaster
VALHALLA ARENA
Heimdall (Watcher of the Apocalypse / Announcer):
With overwhelming excitement, Heimdall shouts:
"THIS is the moment I've been waiting for!!"
"The moment to sound the GJALLARHORN!!"
"The moment to raise the curtain on RAGNAROK… is almost here!!"
"ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?!"
The crowd erupts in excitement.
"The rules are simple! Fight… TO THE DEATH!"
"That's it! The winner is decided by the complete annihilation of the other side!"
"Now, for the first match! Representing the GODS…"
"This man! Everyone knows this god!"
"Everyone wants to witness his full power!"
"His MJOLNIR can crush even the seas and the earth!!"
"If he doesn't fight… then who will?!"
"To live fighting, to die fighting!"
"THE STRONGEST OF THE NORSE!!"
From the dark and ominous corridor, the Norse god emerges, walking toward the arena entrance.
The gods erupt in excitement at the mere sight of him.
Carrying his massive hammer over his shoulder, he walks forward calmly. Electricity crackles around him as he stops before the gate.
"THE GOD… THOR!!"
The gods' side roars with pride and excitement.
Elsewhere…
At Odin's throne.
Odin: "Crush them… and annihilate them."
He speaks with cold seriousness and disdain.
Back in the arena.
Heimdall: "AND NOW, HIS OPPONENT!!"
"Representing humanity… THIS MAN…!!!"
As the human warrior is introduced, a soldier in armor strikes a gong with a massive mallet.
At the same time, many soldiers play instruments—drums and smaller gongs.
All of it to welcome their great lord.
Heavy footsteps echo from deep within the corridor behind the gate… like a beast approaching.
Heimdall: "WILL THIS BE THE END?!"
"Seven million years of existence!!"
"WILL IT ALL BE FORGOTTEN HERE?!"
"Seven million years of PRIDE!!"
The soldiers shout in unison, full of passion and pride:
"NO!!"
Steam begins to pour from the gate. The footsteps grow louder, more intense… closer.
Then—an animal's leg appears.
A powerful, swift horse.
The gods watch in surprise and curiosity… as they see a man wrapped head to toe in bandages—like a mummy—riding atop the horse.
Heimdall: "THIS MAN CARRIES… THE WILL OF HUMANITY!!"
"Listen to them!"
"WHO ELSE COULD DO IT BUT HIM?!"
The man awakens—then, with pure physical strength, shatters the bandages around his body.
"Will this man be devoured by the gods?!"
The soldiers roar back:
"NO!!"
Heimdall: "THE STRONGEST MAN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME!!"
"ANY OBJECTIONS?!"
"NO!!"
The strongest warrior of China.
The bandages break apart completely.
He raises his arms… then leaps into the battlefield with his horse.
The gods are stunned by such an entrance.
Lu
Bu
Hou
Sen
Lu Bu Housen
Heimdall: "AND NOW—LET THE TOURNAMENT THAT WILL DECIDE HUMANITY'S FATE BEGIN!!"
"RAGNAROK!!"
"And to start—an incredible match!!"
"Representing the gods—the mightiest Norse god… THE GOD OF THUNDER, THOR!!"
"And representing humanity… from the Three Kingdoms… the strongest hero…"
"LU BU HOUSEN!!"
The soldiers erupt in cheers at their lord's name.
Thor and Lu Bu stare each other down in silence.
Heimdall: "THIS IS TRULY A BATTLE OF THE STRONGEST!!"
"THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE ARENA IS TENSE!!"
Heimdall stretches his arms, overwhelmed with excitement—finally about to blow the Gjallarhorn.
Heimdall (thinking): 'How long… have I waited for this day?'
'Waiting for the chance… to finally use this horn…!!'
With sweaty hands, Heimdall brings the horn to his mouth.
When the messenger of the apocalypse, Heimdall, blows the Gjallarhorn… it will signal the beginning of Ragnarok.
Heimdall: "NOW!"
"At last—the battle of the strongest—begi…ns?!"
Suddenly—
A crack appears in the sky… slowly spreading.
Gods and humans alike are confused—unable to understand the sudden phenomenon.
In the stands, countless theories ar
ise about what that strange thing in the sky could be.
But there is one thing they all share…
That feeling gnawing at them from within…
Curiosity.
[End of chapter 1]