285
Carlo
The arena erupted in unprecedented screams and applause, elevating the atmosphere to a fever pitch.
The arena gates swung open, revealing a man clad in armor wielding a massive axe.
Unkempt with a scar across his face, he was unmistakably the reigning champion.
"Cruel Axe!"
"Ares! Ares!"
Forseti observed the man, pondering for a moment.
Ares? Could this be the same Ares from the pantheon of Olympus, god of war?
As Ares moved closer to Forseti's position, a holy light suddenly surged forth, the holy light pointer pointing directly at Ares.
No wonder the aura of violence was so palpable. This Ares was undoubtedly a bloodthirsty individual, likely with a trail of innocent blood on his hands.
"Next up is Ares' opponent, the mighty Boulder Warrior!" Grandmaster announced.
Simultaneously, the gates on the opposite side of the arena opened, revealing a towering stone giant wielding a colossal sledgehammer.
The Boulder Warrior roared, greeted by cheers from the crowd.
"Let the game begin!"
Grandmaster's hologram disappeared, and the match commenced. The Boulder Warrior charged forward with his hammer raised, aiming straight for Ares.
"Boom..."
His immense size caused the ground to tremble, sending vibrations through the front row, eliciting more screams.
Facing the formidable Boulder Warrior, Ares remained steadfast. He casually removed his battle axe from his back, gripping it firmly as he coldly eyed his approaching opponent.
With a thunderous roar, the Boulder Warrior swung his sledgehammer towards Ares with immense force.
Ares reacted swiftly,
In a blur of motion, he evaded the hammer in an instant, almost teleporting.
Even as he dodged the warhammer, Ares swung his axe in a swift backhand motion.
"Boom!"
With a resounding crash, Ares' axe cleanly sliced the Boulder Warrior in half, scattering rubble.
In a single stroke.
The Boulder Warrior's body, now reduced to a heap of stones, collapsed heavily to the ground. Ares withdrew his axe, slung it casually over his shoulder, and exited the arena without a backward glance.
"The Brutal Axe, the invincible Ares!"
"Ares! Ares!" The crowd's chants grew louder, echoing through the arena.
Watching Ares dispatch his opponent with a single swing, Forseti was impressed.
It wasn't just about the raw power displayed in defeating the Boulder Warrior with one blow. To ordinary eyes, the Boulder Warrior appeared fearsome, but Forseti recognized it as a facade. In reality, the Boulder Warrior's strength was likely artificially enhanced by Grandmaster, using dubious methods.
To take down the Boulder Warrior in one move wasn't a true measure of Ares' prowess. However, Ares' speed and flawless technique in delivering two strikes showcased his remarkable skill, ranking him among the elite in Asgard.
As the event concluded, the audience dispersed, engaging in heated discussions along the way.
As Forseti left, he pondered strategies for rescuing the Horse-Faced Thor.
To free Bill from Grandmaster's control, all they needed to do was remove the submission disc around his neck. With his strength, Thor could easily resist Grandmaster's confinement unless bound by the magnetic disc.
There were two ways to remove the submission disc. One was to obtain the control device from Grandmaster himself. The other involved using the Divine Shield technique on Bill and then destroying the submission disc directly.
Forseti possessed only a few fragments of the Divine Shield and preferred not to share them. Thus, he initially considered the former option – obtaining the controller from Grandmaster.
Though unsure how to approach Grandmaster, Forseti recalled another figure.
Carlo, Grandmaster's cousin.
During his earlier discussions with Wagg, Forseti had gathered substantial information about Carlo.
On Saka Star, Carlo was often embellished with various epithets like "Greedy Carlo" or "Stingy Carlo," highlighting his reputation as a compulsive gambler and money-lover who frequented Saka's numerous gambling dens.
"To find Carlo, I simply need to visit some of the renowned casinos in Saka City," Wagg had advised.
The following day, Forseti departed from his lodgings and set out in search of the famed casinos on Saka.
True to Wagg's words, it didn't take long for Forseti to locate Carlo, who was presently at a racetrack engaged in horse racing betting.
More than a dozen horses thundered around the racetrack, riders urging them onward amidst fervent cheers from the spectators. The atmosphere, more intense than the arena, was palpable with excitement and anticipation, fueled by the audience's vested interests in the outcome.
Forseti soon identified Carlo, surrounded by guards in the front row of the stands, his bald head held high as he shouted in fervor.
"Dahl, if your horse doesn't place top three today, I'll stuff you into its belly!"
His words made the fourth-placed jockey visibly nervous, as he tugged at the reins, attempting to spur his horse faster.
"Go, go!" Carlo urged relentlessly.
Surveying the racing horses, Forseti turned to Venom. "You can bond with horses, correct?"
"Most living beings are compatible," Venom affirmed. "However, compatibility levels vary. If our bond is low, either the symbiote or the host could perish."
"What about that one?" Forseti pointed out.
"We should manage," Venom replied. "Are you asking me to help this horse win?"
"Yes."
As Forseti and Venom conversed, the race concluded. Unfortunately, Carlo's favored horse didn't make the top three, trailing behind to settle in fifth place.
Carlo was furious.
At the race's conclusion, he seized a knife from a nearby guard, stormed over to the track, and, in a fit of rage, slashed the horse to pieces.
The horse whimpered and collapsed.
"Stitch him inside!" Carlo pointed at the jockey.
"Don't, Lord Carlo, please!" The jockey pleaded in horror as he was forcibly restrained by guards and shoved toward the fallen horse's belly.
"Hold on a moment," Forseti interjected.
"Who are you?" Carlo frowned.
Forseti gestured toward the fallen horse. "Mr. Carlo, I have a method to ensure it performs better."
"You mean to race it with its guts hanging out?" Carlo sneered.