CHAPTER 47

So, he planned to change locations to challenge Rhodes one-on-one.

Rhodes also had the same intention.

In that case, let's face this legendary Nordic sea deity head-on.

At this moment, Rhodes and Sea God Niord stood above an expansive sea.

Niord, the god of the sea, carried his oars on his shoulders.

"You are indeed very strong. I haven't seen such strength in the Asgard since God King Odin, so let's fight with all our might."

"It's fine to fight with all your strength, but there's one thing I want to correct—Odin is no longer the king of gods."

"Hmph, if you can defeat me, I'll acknowledge Hela as the king of gods. If you can't beat me, you can serve as a temple servant for a thousand years."

"Hmph... alright, there's no problem."

Seeing Rhodes agree, Sea God Niord raised the iron oar in his hand.

In an instant, accompanied by Sea God Niord's rage, the vast sea as far as the eye could see began to churn with monstrous waves, with waves reaching thousands of feet, even reaching Rhodes in the sky.

The sky and earth changed color, dark clouds filled the sky, and the low air pressure made it hard to breathe. Countless waterspouts and hurricanes appeared between the dark clouds and the sea instantly.

Sure enough, when Sea God Niord got angry, he could easily cause massive waves, storms, and tsunamis, altering the very fabric of the sky and earth.

Rhodes was unfazed by this doomsday-like scene.

Rhodes admired the magical landscape around him.

"Not bad, these artificial fountains are quite impressive, and the atmosphere is just right. Little brother, you have a knack for setting the mood. When we celebrate Hela's succession, you should create some of these artificial fountains. Remember to follow the patterns of the fireworks I display in the sky; it's an excellent idea."

Although Sea God Niord didn't understand Rhodes' reference to an "atmosphere group," he sensed Rhodes was mocking his Sea God powers.

Sea God Niord rushed towards Rhodes with his iron bar in hand.

Accompanying Sea God Niord, a monstrous tsunami comparable to the great flood described in the Bible swept forward.

A tremendous pressure bore down on Rhodes.

Rhodes chuckled.

"It's quite an impressive performance for an 'atmosphere group' like this."

"This level of strength is barely enough for me to use a skill."

"Watch closely."

Rhodes clenched his fists tightly, and his whole body ignited in fiery red.

"Burning mountains and boiling seas!"

With Rhodes' roar, a scorching heat more terrifying than the Flame Giant King Surtur erupted.

Seeing this, Sea God Niord was momentarily stunned.

The Seagod's Fist, which could easily shatter a modern Earth aircraft carrier, evaporated before even touching Rhodes. It evaporated rapidly and spread around Rhodes.

Sea God Niord hadn't even reached Rhodes yet, but he was pushed back by the searing heat wave, flying several kilometers away and crashing to the ground.

The once 10,000-meter-deep sea was instantly evaporated by Rhodes' released energy.

Above Vanaheim, a thick layer of clouds appeared, composed entirely of evaporated seawater.

Sea God Niord, who had anticipated falling into the sea or dealing with boiling water, now found himself lying on the ground after a series of somersaults, his noble stature greatly diminished.

Sea God Niord eventually hit a large, hard object.

Turning to see what it was, he was dumbfounded—a massive whale, instantly roasted into a mummified body. Given the scale of marine life in the realm of gods, the whale living in Vanaheim was dozens of times larger than Earth's whales. The whale was now reduced to a roasted husk. It was as large as a mountain, explaining why Sea God Niord felt the impact.

The ocean that was once his domain had turned into a desert wasteland, and the seabed's bottomless sand had transformed into a desert. The surroundings were littered with mummified marine life.

The ocean world that had favored him a moment ago had become a desert in an instant.

Sea God Niord's luxurious garments were now mere rags. If Rhodes hadn't left some fabric for the essential areas of Sea God Niord's body, the Vanir warrior Sea God would likely have been exposed.

Rhodes picked up a dried sea fish roasted by the heat, sprinkled a pinch of salt from his fingertips, and took a bite, resulting in a satisfying crunch.

"Well, this fish tastes really good. Niord, how about a bite?"

Completely blackened by Rhodes' fiery onslaught, Sea God Niord's clothes were in tatters, and his once-golden hair was scorched black. He looked like a beggar fleeing famine.

Sea God Niord was in shock. He could sense the disappearance of seawater within a radius of thousands of kilometers, all of it evaporated into the sky. He could no longer summon a single drop of water.

Sea God Niord lowered his head humbly.

The Vanir warriors, waiting in the Warner Temple, witnessed a dark figure being expelled from a rift in space. They were about to shout Sea God Niord's name, but the figure looked strangely familiar.

Nasus, the goddess of fertility, recognized the blackened Sea God Niord as her brother and husband.

"My God, Niord?"

Then, Rhodes himself emerged from the space rift, still munching on Vanaheim's specialty grilled fish.

Nasus, the goddess of fertility, and the gods of the Vanir rushed forward to help the nearly roasted Sea God Niord, who was in a pitiful state.

At this point, Sea God Niord's divine power and the damage inflicted by Rhodes' heat were evenly matched. Sea God Niord had no strength left, needing the support of other Vanir gods to stand.

Rhodes nearly finished eating his grilled fish.

He stepped forward, causing the mighty Vanir gods to instinctively retreat.

Rhodes was momentarily surprised, but then a smile graced his face.

Even Sea God Niord, the Vanir Sea God, was almost roasted by Rhodes. Although the Vanir gods were unaware of the battle's details, the results were clear—Sea God Niord was utterly defeated.

Guerveg, who had anticipated this outcome, shook his head in resignation.

"Well, it seems the end has come for the Vanir warriors."

Nasus, the goddess of fertility, observed her brother and husband, Sea God Niord, in his charred state, feeling distressed. Yet, she knew she couldn't show weakness, as she was now married to the Sea God Niord. She stood firm and addressed Rhodes.

"Your Excellency Rhodes of the Asgard, if you have any demands, I'll do my utmost to meet them. Just please spare Vanaheim. I'm willing to do anything to ensure their safety."

The Goddess of fertility, standing just a step away from Rhodes, displayed her imposing figure without reservation. She was willing to offer herself to secure the Vanir safety.

"No, Lord Nasus, we'd rather face death in battle than exchange you for the Vanir safety. It would be a great disgrace for us. We are prepared to fight to the death rather than endure humiliation."

Numerous Vanir gods were prepared to face Rhodes in a battle they knew was likely their end. While they understood their fate, the dignity of the Vanir gods remained intact.

Rhodes surveyed Nasus, the Goddess of Plenty. While he acknowledged her striking appearance and figure, his purpose was different.

Rhodes replied, "Since you refuse to recognize Hela as the new God King, then I have no choice but to bring the entire Vanaheim to heel. It may take some time, but not too long, just the time it takes to have a cup of tea."

Sea God Niord, who had caught his breath, rose to his feet and declared, "Lord Rhodes, I've lost this battle. I, Niord, concede defeat and am not your match. I'm willing to represent the entire Vanaheim and acknowledge Hela as the God King."

"Please accept our surrender, Lord Rhodes. We, the Vanir gods, will pay tribute to you in accordance with the customs of the Nine Realms. Forgive our impertinence."

With the true leader of the Vanaheim, Sea God Niord, surrendering, the rest followed suit. The mighty Vanir gods were now completely under Rhodes' sway.

Nasus, the goddess of fertility, breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Rhodes in acknowledgment.

Rhodes gallantly helped Nasus, the goddess of fertility.

"It's alright, beautiful Goddess of fertility. I look forward to seeing your graceful presence at God King Hela's succession feast."

Nasus, the goddess of fertility, blushed slightly and Rhodes replied, "I shall take my leave, everyone."

Rhodes then vanished from Vanaheim, leaving the Vanir gods bewildered.

Rhodes, who had departed, left the many gods of the Vanaheim in a state of confusion. Rhodes continued his journey without pause, heading next to the dwarf kingdom, Nedvialli, known for its skilled craftsmen. These dwarves, despite their short stature, were renowned for their craftsmanship and had produced many legendary items, including the weapons and armor of the Asgard and Vanir, as well as Rhodes' own guardian spear.