"Huh?! What do you mean you're fighting for the damned humans!" Zeus's jaw dropped, thunder rumbling faintly around his throne as disbelief rippled through the divine stands.
Ogun stepped forward slowly, the heavy sound of his boots echoing across the arena floor. He did not look up at Zeus. He did not bow.
"I've always been a human."
The words landed heavier than any hammer strike.
A murmur spread instantly among the gods. Some laughed in disbelief. Others leaned forward, eyes narrowing. Hermes adjusted his gloves. Ares scoffed openly.
Zeus' expression darkened. Lightning cracked across the sky above the coliseum.
"You are a demi-god," Zeus said sharply. "Forged of divine blood."
Ogun reached over his shoulder and gripped the handle of his massive iron cleaver. The metal gave a low hum as he pulled it free, resting it against the ground.
"My blood doesn't matter," Ogun replied calmly. "I was born on earth. I bled on earth. I learned from earth."
He glanced toward the human stands.
"They call me god of iron."
His fingers tightened around the hilt.
"But iron belongs to men."
The arena fell silent.
Ra's golden eyes narrowed slightly, studying Ogun carefully. Not anger.
"You would turn your back on Olympus?" Zeus growled, rising from his throne. "On divinity?"
Ogun finally looked up. His expression was not defiant. It was steady.
"I'm not turning my back on anything," he said. "I'm choosing where I stand."
He lifted the cleaver slightly.
"And I stand with those who build. Who sweat. Who shape the world with blistered hands."
Perun slammed his fist into the railing. "Traitor!"
Some gods nodded in agreement. Others remained quiet, uncertain.
From the human side, confusion turned into cautious hope. Joachim's breath caught in his throat. Furbiris leaned forward, eyes wide.
"He's… switching sides?" Furbiris whispered.
Zeus' lightning intensified, cracking violently across the sky.
"You think they will accept you?" Zeus thundered. "You think mortals will embrace a being who walks between worlds?"
Ogun lowered his blade fully to the arena floor.
A deep crack spread outward from the point of contact.
"They don't have to," he said quietly. "I'm not fighting for praise."
He lifted his gaze again.
"I'm fighting because you're wrong."
The words stunned the arena into stillness.
Zeus' smile returned, but it was no longer amused. It was dangerous.
"You understand what this means?" Zeus asked.
Ogun nodded once.
Thunder roared overhead.
"Then so be it," Zeus declared. "If you choose humanity…"
Lightning struck the arena floor behind Ogun. "you will fall as one."
Ogun rolled his shoulders once, calm as ever.
"I've died before," he said evenly. "Men do that."
In his hands, a long golden scroll unfurled, stretching down the marble steps and pooling at his feet. Names shimmered across it in divine script, war gods, death gods, primordial horrors, executioners of entire civilizations.
Every one of them ready.
Every one of them watching.
Hermes adjusted his glasses slightly, eyes scanning the list.
"…Well," he murmured, half to himself, half to Zeus. "That complicates things."
Zeus sat back down slowly, lightning still dancing across his shoulders.
Hermes continued reading.
"Athena. Set. Thor. Amaterasu. Huitzilopochtli…"
Each name pulsed faintly as it was spoken, the corresponding god either straightening in their seat or smirking in anticipation.
Hermes looked sideways at Zeus.
"Who do we choose…"
The question wasn't playful.
It was strategic.
They could not afford to appear shaken after Ogun's defection.
Zeus' fingers tapped against the armrest of his throne.
Then he chuckled.
Low.
Thoughtful.
"No," Zeus said. "Not a full god."
Hermes paused mid-scroll.
"…Oh?"
Zeus stood once more, the thunderclouds tightening overhead.
"They want to play with philosophy," Zeus said, glancing briefly toward the human stands.
"They want symbolism."
His grin widened.
"Then we answer with legacy."
Hermes' eyes scanned further down the scroll.
And then, One name glowed brighter than the rest.
Zeus pointed.
"Him."
Hermes' eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Interesting choice…"
The scroll shimmered as the name rose off the parchment in blazing letters.
A murmur rippled through the gods.
Some nodded in approval.
Some smirked knowingly.
Zeus' voice boomed across the arena.
"For Round Three."
Thunder cracked violently.
"we send another who walks between mortal and divine!"
The clouds above split apart.
A violent gust of wind tore through the coliseum entrance.
And from the shadows, a figure stepped forward.
Tall. Lean. Coiled like a hunting hound.
His hair was wild, dark as storm clouds. His eyes burned with a feral intensity that made even seasoned gods sit straighter. Red markings ran faintly across his skin, almost glowing beneath the surface.
A long spear rested in his grip, its blade wicked, barbed, alive with deadly promise.
The air around him vibrated.
Not with warmth like Ra.
Not with weight like Ogun.
But with speed.
With violence barely restrained.
Zeus spread his arms wide.
"Protector of Ireland!"
The figure rolled his neck once, a sharp crack echoing.
"The Hound of Ulster!"
He twirled the spear once effortlessly.
"—Cu Chulainn!"