Chapter two

Obligatory Disclaimer : I do not own anything (except maybe OC characters) all characters, places, worlds, universes…etc mentioned here belong to their respective owners and/or companies.

This is purely a work of fiction. Not meant to offend or incite, but to entertain and maybe inspire.

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THE POWER OF RAGE II

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My thick green fingers firmly gripped the aromatic oily brown grilled meat up to my face, my mouth tearing into the succulent, delicious flesh, I satisfyingly chewed. My tastes buds reveling in the tastyy juices rolling about the meat as I swallowed. I was very hungry, and as I suppose my hunger was ravenous. And the meat was truly from heaven.

The battle had ended not long after the arrival of Thor. We boarded the ships and came back to the banquet hall we left earlier.

The warriors sat around a large table filled with red juicy meat and sweet alcohol in large wooden mugs.

Some were busy laughing and talking others like myself busily eating.

Even amongst them my now gigantic muscle ripped form and dark green skin stood out like a sore thumb. Even when seated I still towered over those seated around me.

Thing is, I can't transform back I to my human form. Well, I don't even know how and neither do I want to yet. I had the feeling I would be able to do that freely when I achieved a 100% synchro rate, but for now this was enough.

The air in the banquet was lively, the orange glowing candle like lights added to the mood. There were no valkyries here, just large framed, muscled, smelly men devouring meat and mead. I felt the slight exhaustion trickle in. My stomach was becoming full and as such I needed rest.

"Haha! Brother you ate the most!" the laughing man sitting next to me had to stand for a moment to shoulder bump me. For large musclehead bastards, these guys were quite friendly. After my khakis tore off, one of them even offered me an Scottish kilt. Oh, I also had a green king anaconda right between my legs. If you think it nearly scared the hell out of me. You should've seen their faces when they got a glimpse of it. Big hands + joystick = fun times.

"I am called Staggorl brother, what are you called?" he pounded his chest.

"Hulk" I nodded at him.

"Aye, a very fitting name. I see you have gathered an amount of runes. Your merits will be very high" he added. The more experienced warriors were imparting useful info to the newbies of valhalla, and since I was a new guy I was also getting some info.

"The more merits you accumulate the higher your ranks rise. As you see there are no valkyries here since we are at the lowest banquets where lowest rank warriors and newcomers gather. That's why the food and the alcohol is like this. If you want to drink with the Valkyries you will have to work hard. Because you will have to at least climb to the intermediate banquet." he took large gulps from his mug, coating his beard in foam.

"You have talent. You will be able to climb up fast. If you have to fight anyways, isn't it better to get good treatment and then fight?"

I nodded at that. I wanted to get stronger, I was the Hulk. I'm not satisfied being a low rank warrior, I had the means to as well. But it wasn't to fight for the gods, I wanted to get strong for me.

"What are the runes?" I asked. In the novel it was the magical energy in all living things, but this wasn't a novel anymore. I had to find out what I could.

"Oh! You're still new but you should also know it, all of the existences that have life have mana in their bodies. Be it small or big. And that's also the same for the enemies of Valhalla."

When we warriors of Valhalla defeat the enemies, we can take their mana and convert it to magical runes. Think of the time when you thought of your saga." he explained.

I did as he said.

[Lowest rank runes : 158]

"You can use the runes to strengthen your abilities, physical and magical. There are some conditions but you will be able to also learn magic and a new saga." he paused and excitedly stared ahead at the valkyries. "It starting, you will get sorted into a legion soon"

"Legion?"

"The camp of a God you follow. It's where the valkyries and warriors reside and also receive blessings"

"Hmm" I don't serve any of these gods neither do I follow them. I'm here to gain power and achieve my aims. I'm not noble enough to be a hero, or stupid enough to be a pawn.

A different armored valkyrie entered the halls and stood on the high platform. She was Reginleif with the flowing blond hair.

"Warriors! I have seen today's performance well! Valhalla welcomes you, exalted warriors!" she said loudly with a radiant smile.

"Ohhh!!!!"

They raised their cups in cheers.

"Starting from now, you will learn of your affiliation! Everyone, look at your cups! Now, remember the name of the god you will believe and follow!"

Reginleif swung her sword. Strands of white light split up and shone down on everyone seated.

I serve no god. I do know a GOD, the one true God if he exists which after witnessing all this, he must. I wonder if he's looking at this all like it's a game. Well since he's not here, I believe in myself. So 'Hulk'

I looked at my cup. A glowing four letter word was written on it.

A hand slapped my shoulder. "Hahaha! Brother Hulk, you are so lucky"

"Warriors have you seen your legions?" she asked and was answered with spirited screams.

"Yes! Thor!"

"Ohh! Ullr!"

"Whoo! Tyr!"

"Then, today's banquet ends here! Follow the Valkyries that will be leading you to your legions! A warm and comfy bed will be awaiting you! You have now truly entered Valhalla!" why does everyone have to shout?

The warriors got even more excited at the mention the valkyries and yelled louder praises. You could see the drools going down the sides of their mouths. The valkyries lined up straight at the entrance of the hall, yelling the names of their gods.

"Heimdal!"

"Ullr"

"Thor!"

"Odin!"

The warriors actually formed neat queues in front of the valkyries as they got sorted to their legions. Ullr and Thor had the longest queues. Heimdall's legion was also longer than Odin's. Well, I guess since they're the most sought after legion they're quite strict in the warriors they chose.

I steadily made my way to the twenty people long queue. The valkyrie smiling radiantly at me as she continued to shout the name of….sigh Odin. The foolish king, the sly and cruel god of war. The one who was behind this experiment of calling forth human souls to valhalla trying to get them to create sagas which all ended up in failure was Odin. The hoe(Hah!) guy was the only one to activate a saga, well with me being an anomaly of course. And now I was headed to his own house.

Twwooooommmm the horn trumpets blared.

"Warriors of Odin follow me" We exited the halls with the dark haired valkyrie in lead and arrived at a port with multiple viking ships. The warriors squealing like excited girls as we boarded the one with the symbol of Odin.

"Hey look, the beautiful valkyrie glanced at me!"

"What? Haha Your sight must be going bad. She was clearly looking at me!"

"Hoho, I didn't know you guys were so blind as to not see her truly looking at me. She even smiled"

"Pffft hahaha, no one will look at your ugly mug! Talk less of a holy valkyrie"

"Hey! Don't be mean to the son"

"What Oldman?! Who're you calling son?"

This strangely feels like high school all over again.

The ships took different routes on the calm rippling waters. The night sky filled with so many blinking stars and large milky moons, it was serene and beautiful, almost oo romantic. Like the calm before a storm.

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"We have arrived" the smooth, silky voice of the valkyrie rang through the ship. Which now docked to a large port.

I alighted along with the others, we walked to a large area filled with wooden huts that looked more like cabins. And a large stone building occupying the centermost section.

"These are the lodgings of the lowest rank warriors. You must raise your ranks to get to the higher better dwellings" she pointed upwards, at the floating castles and houses in the air. And above all that a large glowing palace.

"Ohhh! My blood is boiling!"

"Me too! I will become a top rank warrior!"

"Wow, such a nice castle"

Hah, heaven has ranks. Man, this is really eye opening.

"Come, great warriors. You need to receive your blessings."

We followed her to the temple like stone building, she stopped at the entrance.

"From here on you must go into the temple alone to receive your blessings."

I walked in last. A colossal sized statue of an old man standing straight and tall with a faceful of beard. It's single eyed gaze sharp and piercingly deadly.

"Warriors. You brave ones that have entered my legion". A thick pillar of golden light shone over the spear wielding statue and it seemed to have come to life. It's eyes glowing with an ethereal gold flame. The power of its voice shaking the very ground beneath my feet. A voice that demanded respect and servitude, a commanding voice that made you pay attention to it. An Aura that urged you to obey and follow

I wanted to see the truth, I sought for it. And so I saw something else, something true, a glowing Astral visage with a blindingly magnificent golden radiance in the form of the godly statue.

A saga was created.

[Saga: The one who will not be deceived.]

 [—]

My perception became open and true. I received the knowledge it came with. The immortal Hulk could smell lies and see astral figures and even ghosts. He could tell apart enemies from allies without prior knowledge. He just knew and called it a gut feeling.

The warriors around me kneeled. I didn't. I won't, Hulk does not kneel, period. I stood firm and tall. Against the mighty powerful  Aura of the kings, I alone stood my ground.

I saw the overly powerful godly being smirk. Maybe mocking my futile acts or maybe entertained. In comparison of power, I looked to the warriors and they just seemed like fireflies compared to the light of Odin, this god was king for a reason, his mere presence was awe-inspiring. But rather than kneeling, I want to break his back over my knee. I want to smack that stupid expression off his glowing face, I want to stand over his beaten body. 'Challenge accepted'.

"I give you warriors the blessings of I, Odin."

A blinding golden light form the heavens coalesced over the warriors and I. And with it came a form of enlightenment. When the light receded I found myself and the others outside the temple. Right before the valkyrie. And with a newfound knowledge over the runes.

The valkyrie nodded "Good, you have all received your blessings."

[Odin's blessings]

[Greater runes understanding. Magic resistance]

"Woooahhh!!"

"Thank you Odin!!!"

"Lord Odin!!!"

They praised.

"Our legion's blessings grant you a better understanding and affinity to rune magic. As well as giving you resistances to other magics. Of course they grow along with you, so improve your ranks to the highest and you will eventually be very immune to all forms of magic." she explained.

"You must all be tired now so rest for today. Tomorrow we begin your training and teachings. I'm sure you have questions. You can head to your lodgings, pick any cabin and it will be yours"

She waved and took her leave. I picked a cabin and entered it. Closing the wooden door behind me.

The cabin was simply decorated room with a straw bed, a double candle stand and a rack. The bathrooms were outside and as you can already guess they were damn primitive. Wait, is my dump radioactive? Do I even need to take a dump anymore? The Hulk's physiology was highly efficient and advanced. He could even exist in the vacuum of space and underwater.

Next to the bed was a wide wooden box and in it was a leather gladiator armor that had a one arm length metal plating protection and a spiked shoulder pauldron, large-sized protected boxer briefs with multiple hanging flaps held together by a leather and metal belt, a spartan helmet and a small round upper chest piece bearing the symbol of Odin. It had an auto eqip function as shown by the rune on it.

I set the box aside and heavily flopped down on the bed. It may have been due to my thick skin but it was comfortable instead of the irritating I expected for it to be.

In the calm quiet, I was left with only my thoughts.

I had died today, then I turned into the hulk and got drafted into the army. A part of that made me angry.

My rage was from being forcefully dragged into this. I was angry at these 'gods' and their audacity to do as they pleased with the lives of people. I wasn't deluded or brainwashed like these other warriors. The souls of the dead should be allowed to rest. Not fight wars they never started or had a hand in. I cared not for their flimsy reasons and excuses. I know I got here through the intervention of a god, I suspect Odin had a hand in it. Just like the novel he took souls from earth to performed these acts. All so he wouldn't die in the end, all so the foolish king would live through Ragnarok. No matter how they veiled it, or sugar coated it. The gods were just fighting to live past their ordained time. I won't be a pawn to anyone, I won't be bound. The only person I was fighting for was me and my family. Because no matter how much I disliked the actions of the gods, I was already involved in this. I knew of the bigger picture behind their selfish desires and interventions.

The man who had motivated me on the ship came back earlier, told me of how it was fate for me to be here since normal dead people went to the other realms of paradise and not valhalla. I could no longer leave for heaven, not when I had already began writing my saga and bonded to it. I was now a full fledged warrior. Fate, my ass. I am going to the things I needed to so I could have a world to live in. I'm not a noble hero, I don't believe in the goodness of people. Because even I myself wasn't good. I'm not deluded by the grace of these gods either. These beings were billions of years old, their experiences dwarfed my own. They had masteries over deceit, falsehoods, persuasive languages and psychological manipulations I couldn't even begin to contend with. It's best to keep my trust to myself.

Plot? Hah, does this seem like a story to you? Who gives a hell about plots. I'm doing what I need to so I can survive, grow stronger and live. Why would I care about plots? This is the real world, unknown variables crop up at each step of the way. I couldn't and wouldn't depend on my spotty memories of the events.

My eyes closed and I thought over my saga.

[Saga: The Incredible, Immortal Hulk] [Synchro rate: 7%]

[Saga: One without fear, only an all-consuming unending fiery rage]

[The one who will not be deceived]

[—]

My synchronization rate had risen by two percent and I still had one empty slot remaining. I knew I would gain more slots more sagas the more my rate rose and the higher my rank went. While these sagas I had with me would grow as well.

I couldn't help but think back to my family. Would they have found my body by now? I know my mom is a strong woman, she'll have to be. It's just her and my little brother now. He has to be the man now, we don't have a father that bastard is dead to us and in jail.

'I'm sorry for leaving like this mom, I really am. I promise on my very new life, I come back to find you and Jeff. Please stay strong.' I prayed silently. That is the sappiest shit I have ever said. Sigh.

I slowly drifted off to the peaceful embrace of temporary peace and rest.

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Chaptureo deux ex Hulkina.

You know what to do to support the story.

Obligatory rhyme~Busta, he's a no long talker. Making honey with man's. Joker, he's a real mad lover, can't get over batman. Halle Berry she's a real hottie, the catwoman i'll ever acknowledge. College, midterms all week, leave a man feeling bleak.

Hhuhu, rain away~